Science in Climate Litigation – Epistemic Communities at work

Siri Gloppen (UiB), Randall Abate (Monmouth University), Yann Robiou du Pont (IDDRI), Jeroen van der Slujis (UiB) and César Rodríguez-Garavito (NYU). 

Epistemic communities is a term used by political scientist Peter Haas to describe networks of knowledge-based experts who enjoy social authority, and who attempt – and sometimes succeed – in having their ideas institutionalized within state policies and practices, including international treaties. In the context of the 1,587 climate change cases that have burgeoned worldwide, the role of epistemic communities is crucial: natural scientists help shape litigation by supporting lawyers and NGOs in understanding and mobilizing science for climate justice. But is the process that simple? How do these networks of knowledge work when science proves challenging, for instance to attribute specific climate effects to fossil fuel companies? Are courts becoming epistemic fora where international climate science is integrated in the legal reasoning through bottom-up pressure? Can climate science help expand traditionally anthropocentric concepts, such as human rights, to also encompass Nature and make Nature rights enforceable against companies?

Roundtable moderated by Siri Gloppen (UiB/LawTransform) with Randall Abate (Monmouth University), Yann Robiou du Pont (IDDRI), Jeroen van der Sluijs (UiB, tbc*) and César Rodriíguez-Garavito (NYU School of Law).

You can attend the seminar physically at Bergen Global (limited spaces) or  watch the seminar on Zoom. 

This event is part of the Bergen Exchanges on Law and Social Transformation. It is free and open to all. Please note that according to corona virus regulations all participants must keep a distance of at least one metre from each other and maintain good hand hygiene. Your name and phone number will be registered and kept for 10 days. If you have any respiratory tract symptoms you should stay at home.

According to the infection control measures, we need to have an overview of who is present at all times and thus kindly ask all who plans to participate to sign up beforehand via this link. 

Seating is limited, so first come, first served.