Now What? The Aftermath of the Urgenda Case

• Jurisdiction: European Union

Speaker

Christina Eckes is professor of European law at the University of Amsterdam and director of the Amsterdam Centre for European Law and Governance (ACELG). She is also a member of the Governing Board of Amsterdam Centre of European Studies (ACES) and one of the leaders of the theme 'Europe in the World'.

Her current research interests are the separation of powers in 21st century Europe and strategic climate litigation. Her most recent publications examine the legal and factual exceptionalism of climate litigation, climate constitutionalisation, and the normative relevance of climate science in litigation.

In the past, she has published widely on the internal constitutional consequences of the European Union's external actions, a comprehensive account of which was published as a monograph entitled EU Powers under External Pressure - How the EU's External Actions Alter its Internal Structures (Oxford University Press, 2019). Previously, her research focussed more specifically on EU restrictive measures (EU sanctions) and the constitutional considerations surrounding these measures, including a monograph entitled EU Counter-Terrorist Policies and Fundamental Rights - The Case of Individual Sanctions (Oxford University Press, 2009) which is the leading text on this topic.

Topic

The presentation delves into a comprehensive overview of the groundbreaking Urgenda case and its profound impact, particularly on the landscape of climate litigation cases that ensued globally. It meticulously dissects the intricate details of the case, shedding light on its historical context and elucidating the pivotal connection between Urgenda and the realm of human rights. By meticulously examining the legal intricacies, the presentation paints a vivid picture of how this landmark case has not only set a precedent but also galvanized a wave of climate-related litigations around the world.

An essential facet of the presentation is the in-depth analysis of the various other recent climate-related cases that have unfolded before national courts within the European Union. By comparing and contrasting these cases with Urgenda, the presentation elucidates the diverse...