Closing Panel: Sustainability and Future Generations

Our environment is under more pressure than ever before, with changes to the global climate and biodiversity loss resulting in great harm to both people and ecosystems. The actions that we do – or do not - undertake today, will have great implications on the welfare of youth and future generations. Yet action to protect the environment comes at a cost, with many trade-off dilemma’s affecting present day welfare of different groups. Furthermore, traditional legal systems are often ill-equipped to safeguard the interests of future generations. Against this backdrop, this final panel centers around the following key question: how should and can the voice and interests of youth and future generations be represented in conflict prevention and resolution?

Guest speakers include Dr. Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, Associate Professor of Sustainability Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam, and Professor Edward Brans, Professor by Special Appointment of Sustainability and Environmental Liability Law at Utrecht University.

Chair: Dr Natalie Dobson, Assistant Professor in climate change and international and European Law at Utrecht University.