Conference objectives

The forthcoming EU – China Conference will focus on major environmental law challenges and assess the state of the art at international, European Union and Chinese level. These major challenges are divided in a thematic manner: climate change and the post-Kyoto framework, biological diversity and halting its losses, chemicals and new developments, new developments in freshwater protection, governance of oceans & seas within and beyond national jurisdiction, new developments in soil & waste legislation, regulation of environmental impact assessment & strategic environmental assessment, environmental information, public participation and access to justice. The themes are introduced from an international environmental law perspective and can be general or specific. Speakers on European and Chinese environmental law will focus on the domestic implementation of what is agreed at international level and/or express a legal opinion on new ongoing developments in international environmental law and the potential shortcomings from the perspective of the EU and China. The panel debates will clarify common or different environmental approaches in the EU and in China. The Conference aims to clarify questions, such as: are there different or common legal opinions towards the major environmental law challenges and if there are, what is their background or reason? What is the actual state practice of implementing environmental law in the EU and China? Will environmental law in the EU and in China in the future divert or come closer to each other?

The Conference aims to contribute to a better understanding of EU and Chinese environmental law today and its perspectives for the future. Academia, environmental law practitioners and legal professionals, governmental and non-governmental actors are welcome at the Conference.