Since September 2025, the European Association of Climate Law (EACL) has been a registered association. Its goal is to strengthen research on the role of law in climate protection and to foster exchange at the European level. On the occasion of its founding and the first EACL conference, we spoke with Prof. Dr. Michael Rodi, Director of IKEM and President of the EACL, about the significance of the new association, its objectives, and its prospects.
Why do we need a European association for climate law?
Climate action is a global challenge that transcends national borders. Yet climate law and the research surrounding it remain highly fragmented and largely confined to national contexts. With the EACL, we aim to establish a forum that brings together and advances scientific dialogue on climate law. In this way, Europe can learn from shared experiences, highlight successful strategies, and strengthen the role of law in climate protection as a whole.
What role does IKEM play in the establishment of the EACL?
IKEM has supported the creation of the association both conceptually and organizationally. This commitment is a natural continuation of our previous work: for many years we have sought to establish climate law as an independent legal field – for example by supporting doctoral projects and through the journal Klima und Recht. We have succeeded in anchoring the discipline at the national level; the next step is to extend this to the European level and give the field greater international visibility.
How does the EACL plan to contribute to scientific discourse?
Scientific exchange and cooperation are at the heart of the EACL’s activities. We are planning thematic working groups on specific issues, an annual conference, and eventually a dedicated publication series.
We will also contribute through the expertise of our members. I am very grateful that we were able to recruit eleven leading climate law experts from across Europe to our Executive Board – the majority of them women. This gives us a strong and diverse network through which we can communicate the EACL’s positions and research findings.
A broad involvement of early career researchers is especially important to us. Addressing shortcomings in climate protection and charting new paths will be their responsibility in the years ahead – which is why we want to support them from the outset and give them a central role within the EACL. Two representatives of the younger generation already serve on our Board. Reflecting this priority, we opened our first conference with a workshop on climate law and intergenerational justice, specifically designed for emerging scholars.
What other priorities did the first EACL conference set?
The inaugural conference brought together nearly 50 speakers in ten expert panels covering various aspects of European climate law. A recurring theme was how to respond to deficits in climate protection and the risks of a possible climate overshoot. Participants discussed the legal solutions available and the potential role of new technologies, such as carbon dioxide removal. Other sessions addressed intergenerational justice, the human right to a safe climate, and the rights of nature. It also became clear that climate litigation remains a vital instrument for ensuring accountability, and that companies are increasingly recognized as central actors in climate protection.
What are the next steps for the EACL?
Our immediate focus is on establishing sustainable structures and expanding our membership base. Applications can already be submitted via an online form on our website. At the same time, we are setting up the first thematic working groups and preparing for the next EACL conference, scheduled for autumn in Helsinki.
