In this episode of A Common Concern, Kate Cook speaks to Dr Patrick Toussaint of African Futures Lab about the international legal response to climate related loss and damage. Kate and Patrick discuss the climate regime's Loss and Damage Fund and Warsaw International Mechanism, climate reparations and their connection to racial and postcolonial justice and the implications of the ICJ's Advisory Opinion on state responsibility. One common theme throughout their discussion is the gross mismatch between what is needed and what is currently available to address catastrophic impacts that are already occurring.

In this episode Florence Iveson discusses the implications of the International Court of Justice's much anticipated Advisory Opinion on Climate Change with Kate Cook and Toby Fisher. Their wide-ranging discussion looks at issues including the role of the temperature goal in the climate regime, the limited discretion in relation to NDCs and what we now know about state responsibility, and what still remains to be determined...

In this episode, Emma Foubister discusses the right to peaceful protest in the context of climate change and climate protests with Carol Day and Anirudh Mathur.

In Part 2 of "Smoke and Mirrors: Geoengineering and International Law", Kate Cook and Mary Church of CIEL look more closely at the legal implications of these technologies including current international restrictions on their deployment, adopted under a number of different treaty regimes, as well as the implications of human rights law and the climate regime.

Advocates of geoengineering claim that these technologies provide a potential solution to climate change, but many question their feasibility and harmful impacts and see them simply as a means to prolong the life of the fossil fuel industry. This two part episode looks at the evidence and the law in relation to geoengineering. In the first part of this episode, Kate Cook and Mary Church of CIEL discuss the specific potential environmental, economic and social impacts of the various technologies referred to as geoengineering and the approach taken by the IPCC. 

Climate related displacement is already occurring and likely to increase significantly in the next few decades. In this episode of A Common Concern: the Climate Justice Podcast, Kate Cook is joined by Alex Randall, founder of the Climate and Migration Coalition and by Raza Husain KC and Sam Knights KC from Matrix to discuss current legal protections under international refugee, climate and human rights law and the risk that increasingly large numbers of displaced or vulnerable people will fall through gaps in protection. What can be done to close these gaps?

In episode 4of A Common Concern: The Climate Justice Podcast, Emma Foubister discusses the role of criminal law in the context of climate impacts on human health and life with Florence Iveson and Professor Cindy Cho.

In this episode of A Common Concern: The Climate Justice Podcast, Kate Cook discusses workers’ rights and climate change with Kalina Arabadjieva of the European Trade Union Institute. From the principles and standards of the International Labour Organisation to the provisions of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, from the rules of the EU Green Deal to the three pillars of the Aarhus Convention, there are many points of intersection between international labour law and climate law. Kate and Kalina discuss the potential for mutual reinforcement in relation to the protection of workers both from the direct impacts of climate change, including heat stress, and in relation to securing a just transition for the workforce in the context of decarbonization. Is closer integration between workers’ rights and climate law a key way to secure climate justice in the face of colossal challenges across the world?

In this episode, Florence Iveson discusses the Omnibus Proposal issued by the European Commission on 26 February 2025 with business and human rights experts Olivia Windham Stewart and Daniel Schonfelder. The episode provides first takes on 5 of the major changes to the CSDDD that have been proposed by the Commission and on the next stages to any amendment process.

In this week's episode Helen Mountfield KC discusses recent legal developments in the US and the UK with Professor Jonathan Marks and David Wolfe KC. Discussion ranges from US cases on the right to a clean and healthy environment, to the legal implications of a new Executive Order on Unleashing American Energy. Across the Atlantic, we hear about recent judicial reviews scrutinising delivery of carbon budget obligations under the 2008 Climate Change Act and the consequences of scope 3 emission reporting for oil and gas licences. In all of this, the role of litigation is itself coming under the spotlight.

In A Common Concern, the Climate Justice Podcast we will be looking at the ways in which the law can, or might, address the urgent threat posed by climate change. We will look at the protection of the rights of those most impacted, including displaced people, workers and those most vulnerable due to current levels of poverty. We will also consider legal developments in other jurisdictions around the world, starting with the United States. Throughout the series, we will try to answer one key question, what role can the law play in closing the gap between where we are and where we need to get to, to avoid global environmental destruction and catastrophic loss of life and wellbeing. In that regard, we will also look at the legal implications of the science informing our understanding of climate change, bearing in mind that while governments may come and go, the laws of physics will continue to govern our world. In this first episode, Kate Cook is joined by Dr. Erik Mackie and Dr. Luke Kemp. Together, we will discuss the science behind climate tipping points and cascade risks.

In this episode, Jamas Hodivala KC discusses with Giles Crown, Partner at Taylor Wessing, greenwashing in marketing claims and current consumer protection legislation applying to such claims. They examine the recent Advertising Standards Authority's decision in Virgin Atlantic Ltd. and discuss key takeaways for businesses looking to advertise their green credentials, before looking at impending changes in EU greenwashing laws.

In this episode, Jamas Hodivala KC discusses with Laura Middleton the results of PWC’s first survey into where businesses see their ESG fraud and misconduct risks, and where this overlaps with its annual Economic Crime Survey. They also consider PWC’s ESG Fraud taxonomy and whether the survey results evidence that companies are currently identifying the relevant risks.

In this podcast, Jamas Hodivala KC discusses with his guests Théa Bounfour and Jean-Philippe Fogle a money laundering complaint filed with prosecutors by the French NGO, Sherpa, alleging that banks are laundering the proceeds of environmental crimes committed by large Brazilian cattle companies.

As the Safety of Rwanda Bill returns to Parliament, Helen Mountfield, Murray Hunt and Richard Hermer discuss the myriad ways it breaches international law and undermines the rule of law.

How do we begin to understand the events in both Israel and Gaza from a legal perspective? In this short podcast Richard Hermer KC talks to Professor Andrew Clapham about the relevant international law framework

In Season 2 Episode 4 of the Matrix Pod: The Rule of Law, Richard Hermer KC, Zoe McCallum and Dr Tim Lillicrap (Research Director at Google DeepMind) discuss Artificial Intelligence and the future of law and humanity. This episode examines fast-moving developments in Artificial Intelligence technology, “the existential threat” that AI is said to generate and its implications for the rule of law. The discussion focuses on two areas - the impact of AI on the justice system and the need to regulate AI on a domestic and international level.

Richard Hermer KC, Jessica Jones and Martha Spurrier (Director at Liberty) discuss the new Public Order Act 2023. The episode analyses the legislation including its connection to the recent Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 and what the new Act means for trust in policing - seen within the context of the current problems faced by the Met Police.

This episode examines the events unfolding in Israel over the past weeks in which tens of thousands of citizens have taken to the streets to protest against legislation designed to increase governmental control over the appointment of judges and to limit the powers of the judiciary.

Richard Hermer KC speaks with Raza Husain KC (Matrix Chambers) and Sile Reynolds (Freedom from Torture) about the pressing Migration Bill being pushed through UK Parliament. The bill is designed to deter refugees arriving into the UK on small boats. Richard, Raza and Sile discuss the role of the courts and whether the bill can be overruled by the ECHR or the Refugee Convention.