On Friday 13 December 2024, the Institute for International Law and the Humanities (IILAH) and the Melbourne Centre for Law and the Environment (MCLE) at Melbourne Law School hosted this seminar presented by Professor Harro van Asselt (University of Cambridge) and chaired by Professor Margaret Young.
At the UN Climate Summit in 2023, the fight over a fossil fuel phase-out took centre stage, resulting in a decision calling on countries to ‘transition away’ from fossil fuels. Professor van Asselt first examined why there have been growing calls for a fossil fuel phase-out, and why international law should play a role in governing the transition away from fossil fuels. Next, he discussed the international regulation of phasing out fossil fuels, focusing on climate change law, human rights law, and investment law. Lastly, he explored options for reform, including through the international climate change regime as well as through a proposed fossil fuel treaty.
