Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Training Workshop on combatting the Adverse Effects of Climate Change

On September 18-19 2023, the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria hosted a hybrid Human Rights Strategic Litigation and Advocacy Training Workshop to curb the adverse effects of Climate Change and environmental shocks in Africa, at the Plant Sciences Complex in the University of the Pretoria. The event brought together legal professionals, judges, and scholars from Southern Africa to explore the critical intersections of climate change, human rights, and climate justice in Africa, with a specific focus on the SADC region. The event was opened by the convener of the event, Dr Elvis Fokala and soon after, the Assistant Director of the Centre for Human Rights, Mr Lloyd Kuveya and the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Elsabe Schoeman welcomed the participants to the University and wished them a very productive stay in Pretoria.

The event, over two days, was structured around five panels. The first day was generally around setting the scene and capacitating the participants on the history and science behind climate change, specifically focusing on separating environmental shocks related to and those caused by the forces of nature.

The second day was designed around strategic climate change advocacy and litigation. The sessions were facilitated by renowned climate change activists, environmental lawyers and researchers. The sessions successfully, capacitated judges and legal practitioners; to adopt a climate-conscious approach in their practice, litigation, and legal services and further on the nexus and impact of the adverse effects of climate change on human rights.

Overall, the event was successful and attained the following outcomes as promised in the project framework:

Increased awareness and understanding among judges and legal practitioners regarding the intersections of climate change, human rights, and climate justice,
Enhanced capacity of judges and legal practitioners to handle climate-related cases, including human rights-based litigation, within their respective legal systems,
Exchanged best practices and strategies for promoting climate justice through legal mechanisms in Southern Africa,
Shared ideas on encouraging governments and companies to adopt more climate-friendly legislation, policies, and practices,
Strengthened collaboration and networking among legal professionals in Southern Africa working on climate change and human rights issues.