Over the past year, many of the WCEL Specialist Groups have focused their efforts on the following WCEL priorities: (1) Planning for the 2nd World Environmental Law Congress in Rio de Janeiro in March 2020; and (2) Coordinating efforts for the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille in June 2020.

2nd World Environmental Law Congress 

WCEL Specialist Groups contributed to developing the thematic sessions for the 2nd World Environmental Law Congress in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Through a series of regional consultations led by WCEL Chair, Justice Antonio Benjamin, WCEL members across the globe identified the following four thematic sessions for the Congress:

1. Sustainable Urban Environment in Times of Climate Change and Biodiversity Crisis
2. Ocean, Islands & Coastal Zone Crisis
3. Species & Ecosystem Extinction Crisis, Convention of Biological Diversity Post-2020, Sustainable Use of Soil and Habitat Protection
4. Enhancing the Practice of the Environmental Rule of Law 

WCEL Specialist Group Chairs are now reviewing the abstracts that were submitted to the Congress. 

IUCN World Conservation Congress

WCEL Specialist Groups contributed to drafting ten forum session proposals that were submitted to the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille. The session proposals covered a range of topics including environmental defenders, the rights of nature, and the global pact for the environment. The Water and Wetlands Specialist Group prepared a forum session proposal on the Brasilia Declaration of Judges on Water Justice adopted at the 8th World Water Forum (Brasilia, March 2018), and the role of justices in water governance. The Oceans, Coasts, and Coral Reefs Specialist Group prepared a forum session proposal concerning the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction. All of the proposals are currently being reviewed and the accepted forum sessions will be published on October 15. 

WCEL Specialist Group Activities

WCEL Specialist Groups have also been involved in global initiatives throughout the world. You can read more about their recent accomplishments, including recent activities, events, publications, and upcoming projects by visiting the WCEL Specialist Group webpages or by exploring the Update Reports linked on the right of the screen. 

For additional information about any of the WCEL Specialist Groups, please visit: https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-environmental-law/our-work