What does this involve?

The damage wreaked by our warming planet is disproportionately felt by the economically disadvantaged. In the Netherlands, social and financial inequality prevents many tradespeople from making the mandatory transition from Diesel vans to electric. Those in social housing have the right to sustainability home improvements like double glazing but are often unaware of this right and how to claim it. In short, climate change is creating justice problems internationally and at home.

Unsurprisingly, the Law Faculty and the University itself recognise the urgency of the situation; establishing a strategic research theme, Uva Sustainability Platform, and investing in interdisciplinary teams to develop new ways to tackle climate change. We work directly with these teams, involving students, citizens and societal partners as we translate academic ideas into effective solutions.

At the other end of the scale, the Law Hub also initiates Climate Justice projects. This can be at the request of a strategic partner like the Municipality of Amsterdam who has a defined challenge to be addressed. Alternatively, we identify climate justice topics or open calls in which our Faculty and partner network can play an essential role.

Translating the theme into projects

As with all of our work, we focus specifically on addressing the justice gaps arising from climate change. These justice gaps can be felt on a local scale by Dutch citizens, or can be overarching and experienced universally. Read below for some examples on a local and global scale.

Localised projects

• Working with rechtswinkels to remove barriers for Dutch citizens in social housing in exercising their right to sustainability improvements.
• Scholars United for a Sustainable Amsterdam: a collaboration between the municipality, researchers and students to explore ways to make Amsterdam more sustainable.
• Mentoring and guiding students as they develop services or toolkits to support climate change activists and protesters. 

Global projects

• Collaborating with the N-EXTLAW research project to test new sustainable economic models with businesses and to develop tools or services to lower barriers to implementation.
• Working as impact development partner with Re:Code to develop research based compliance tools which improve sustainability outcomes for businesses.
• Collaborating with partners like WWF to develop bottom up solutions for local communities fighting resource exploitation. 

Partners

We work closely on this theme with the Amsterdam Centre on the Legal Professions and Access to Justice (ACLPA), C-Lab, Gemeente Amsterdam, the Raad voor Rechtsbijstand, the Ministry of Justice and Security and with Stichting Allemansrecht.