Environmental Justice Symposium – 30th November 2012, Brisbane
On 30th November 2012 AELA hosted an Environmental Justice Symposium in Brisbane, in partnership with the Queensland Environmental Defender’s Office (Qld EDO) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
A copy of the flyer and final program is available, please click here.
The symposium brought together more than 90 people, including academics, activists, legal practitioners, students and regulators, to explore the meaning and relevance of environmental justice in Queensland. There were four sessions: an introduction to environmental justice; a case study: coal seam gas; climate justice and making environmental justice happen.
Since the symposium was concluded a number of people have volunteered to progress an Environmental Justice Network for Queensland. If you’re interested in this initiative, please contact AELA – convenor@earthlaws.org.au
To download a copy of audio recordings and Powerpoint presentations from the Symposium, please click on the links below.
INTRODUCTION:
- “Opening remarks and welcome” – Professor Douglas Fisher (5 mins)
SESSION 1 – ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE
- Keynote Address: “Environmental Justice: Origins and Evolution” – Professor David Schlosberg, Sydney University (32 minutes)
- “Rethinking Environmental Justice in the Anthropocene Epoch” – Associate Professor Afshin Akhavari, Griffith University (22 mins)
- “Ecological Justice and Earth Jurisprudence” – Michelle Maloney, Australian Earth Laws Alliance (16 mins)
SESSION 2 – A CASE STUDY: COAL SEAM GAS
- “Bridging the Divide: Coal and Gas in Rural Queensland” – Annette Hutchinson, Stop CSG Brisbane (18 mins)
- “The Legal Framework for Coal Seam Gas in Queensland: Opportunities for Community Influence” – Evan Hamman, Project Manager, EDO (15 mins)
- “When the law can’t help: the role of civil disobedience” – Drew Hutton, Lock the Gate Alliance (17mins)
SESSION 3 – CLIMATE JUSTICE
- “How bad can it get? The implications for justice of future climate” - Professor Brendan Mackey, Director, Griffith Climate Change Response Program (15 mins)
- “Theories of Justice: Application within the International Climate Regime” – Dr Rowena Maguire, QUT (18 mins)
- “What does climate justice mean in Australia?” Dr Wendy Steele, Griffith University (17 mins)
- “Can climate litigation achieve climate justice?” Sean Ryan, Senior Solicitor, EDO (18 mins)
SESSION 4 – MAKING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE HAPPEN
- “Judicial Activism in Environmental Governance” – Professor Douglas Fisher, QUT (17 mins)
- “Access to Justice and Funding Challenges” – Jo Bragg, Principal Solicitor, EDO (18 mins)
- “Landholder compensation” – Glen Martin, Legal Aid (15 minutes)
- “Achieving environmental justice – what’s the role of government, civil society (and business)?” – Michelle Maloney, Australian Earth Laws Alliance (21 mins)
CONCLUSION
- “Conclusions and next steps” – Michelle Maloney and Doctor Rowena Maguire (6 mins)
