Hosted across Melbourne Law School (4–5 February) and the Monash University Law Chambers (6 February), the 12th Frontiers in Environmental Law Colloquium gathered academics and practitioners working across the full spectrum of environmental law. The program began with a Welcome to Country and an opening keynote by Trav Lovett, surrounded by sessions examining Indigenous governance, treaty law, legal pluralism, and the deepening relationship between environmental challenges and legal systems.
Across 43 sessions and three days of discussion, the gathering created a rare space for rigorous exchange and hopeful collaboration. It was a space where scholars could confront the realities of climate change while sharing evolving methods, insights and commitments that shape the future of legal education and reform.
“Environmental issues are becoming increasingly central to all areas of law and the conference therefore reflected a wider representation of legal disciplines engaging with the intersection of their field with environmental law and environmental regulation,” said Associate Professor Joanna Kyriakakis.
Her words reflect the spirit of the program, which ranged across torts, criminal law, labour law, corporate governance, constitutional law, international law and more. This program was a recognition that environmental issues are no longer peripheral, but woven into the fabric of legal practice and theory.
Exploring the climate crisis through every legal lens
A defining thread across the colloquium was the relationship between climate impacts and legal systems.
“An important subset of this is the intersection of different distinct fields of law with the climate crisis,” said Associate Professor Kyriakakis.
This intersection took centre stage in panels examining climate accountability, rights of nature, separation of powers, downstream emissions, and litigation trends in Australia and abroad. A highlight, Kyriakakis noted, was the dedicated session on the Climate Conscious Lawyers project. This is a collective effort to equip students and educators with the tools to understand how climate change will shape every legal domain.
“This is a collective effort, working to equip law teachers and students to understand different legal fields and how they will be increasingly impacted by the effects of climate change.”
The project’s emphasis on curriculum renewal, critical thinking, and community responsibility deeply aligns with Monash Law’s commitment to values-led legal education.
A community built on collaboration, generosity and shared learning
Dr Elizabeth Sheargold spoke to the spirit of connection that defined this year’s colloquium.
“The colloquium had a strong ethos of collaboration and helping build research networks and connections, with many panels bringing together people working on similar issues who may not have previously worked together.”
Her reflection on Friday’s Climate Conscious Lawyers panel illustrates how academics are opening their practice to one another. This involves sharing teaching materials, assessment approaches, and experiences of engaging students with climate change across doctrinal subjects.
“It was really great to see people so freely sharing their own experiences to help colleagues in the pursuit of common goals, rather than keeping their secrets to themselves!” said Dr Sheargold.
This sense of community was felt most strongly among early career researchers.
“The colloquium provided a really wonderful environment for early career researchers with insights and encouragement,” Sheargold said.
“From a Monash law perspective, it was great to have two of our PhD students – Mohammadhossein Latifian and Nusrat Urmi – attending the conference, engaging with scholars and making new connections.”
Friday at Monash: practitioner perspectives and pressing questions
On Friday 6 February, the colloquium relocated to Monash University Law Chambers, where a more practice-focused program invited participants to interrogate the challenges facing the legal system today.
“Friday saw practitioner’s issues take priority with presentations focused on the key issues currently before the courts with an emphasis on issues such as: is AI environmental in nature; how to practice environmental justice; and, how to produce climate conscious lawyers,” said Professor Gerry Nagtzaam.
These questions were brought to life through panels exploring whether algorithmic regulation can be environmental regulation, how lawyers support community-led environmental justice efforts, and how AI’s “supply chain capitalism” intersects with environmental harms.
The energy of the day was animated by a powerful keynote from Professor Erika Techera (UWA).
“The keynote address by Erika Techera of UWA Law School critically examined compliance strategies as they pertain to natural resources and their interplay with current cultural heritage law and how much more the law needs to evolve to provide equitable outcomes, particularly for indigenous peoples.”
A standout moment for Professor Nagtzaam was the highly anticipated session on the Pabai Pabai case, a landmark climate litigation matter.
“The presentation on the Pabai Pabai case was amazing with key insights into why the case failed and where to go from here.”
The 12th Frontiers in Environmental Law Colloquium held space not only for legal critique, but for collective learning. It demonstrated a willingness to confront shortcomings and imagine the pathways ahead.
A diverse program grounded in justice, stewardship and the public good
Across streams and panels, the colloquium explored topics including:
- decarbonisation, climate duties and mortgage lending in a changing climate
- obligations as ecological norms
- international climate law and advisory opinions
- the biodiversity and regional Australia study tour
- human rights impacts of fossil fuel exports
- teaching environmental law through lived examples
- governing seas, blue carbon laws and small?scale fisheries
- nature-related financial risks and corporate responsibility
These discussions reflected a shared belief that environmental law is not an isolated discipline, but a deeply interdisciplinary, justice-oriented project.
“The range of presenters and topics discussed really reflected the range of areas of law and different kinds of legal expertise that are necessary to manage current and future environmental problems,” said Dr Sheargold.
The program also emphasised varied jurisdictions, including Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Fiji and the Asia-Pacific. This reinforces the view that environmental challenges are regional and global, and their solutions must be too.
Monash Law’s commitment: research that leads, teaching that transforms
Monash academics contributed as presenters, chairs and discussants across the 12th Frontiers in Environmental Law Colloquium, reinforcing the Faculty’s commitment to environmental law scholarship, innovative teaching, and community impact.
Our presence across the colloquium demonstrated the Faculty’s broad and deep engagement with environmental issues. Our academics participated in panels on judicial approaches to climate litigation, international investment law, obligations as ecological norms, fiscal architecture for decarbonisation, regulatory mixes for climate resilience, and nature-related risks.
Looking ahead with optimism and resolve
The colloquium concluded with a forward look to Frontiers 2027, buoyed by three days of connection, generosity and shared purpose. As climate and environmental issues reshape legal systems around the world, events like this reinforce why Monash Law remains committed to academic inquiry that is deeply human, grounded in justice, and oriented toward creating a fairer future.
