In December 2026, Cape Town will host a gathering of unusual urgency and significance. 

The 23rd Annual Colloquium of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Academy of Environmental Law (IUCNAEL) will be convened from the 7–11th December, with the Institute for Marine and Environmental Law at the University of Cape Town serving as host. For those working at the intersection of law and environmental change, it is an event that arrives at precisely the right moment.

Environmental law is no longer a niche discipline concerned only with conservation or compliance. It now sits at the centre of global efforts to respond to what is widely recognised as a triple planetary crisis: climate change, escalating pollution and accelerating biodiversity loss. These challenges are deeply interconnected, testing the limits of existing legal frameworks. Against this backdrop, the Cape Town colloquium is designed as a forum for discussion and, importantly, as a space for rethinking the role of law itself.

A defining strength of the IUCNAEL colloquium lies in the calibre and diversity of its participants. Leading academics, practitioners, government officials and representatives from civil society will gather to exchange ideas and interrogate assumptions. For scholars, particularly those at earlier stages of their careers, the opportunity to present research before such an audience is invaluable - and rare! It is a chance to refine arguments, gain international exposure and contribute to debates that increasingly shape policy and practice.

Yet the value of the colloquium extends beyond formal presentations. It is equally a space for conversation, often informal (but no less important), where collaborations take root. Environmental law, perhaps more than most fields, depends on networks: across jurisdictions, across disciplines and across sectors. The collegial atmosphere for which the IUCNAEL community is well known makes it especially conducive to building these connections, whether through panel discussions, workshops or through the quieter exchanges that happen between sessions.

The 2026 programme is expected to engage directly with the question of how environmental law must evolve. Traditional regulatory approaches, while still essential, are increasingly seen as insufficient on their own. New thinking is required, thinking that is responsive to scientific complexity, attentive to questions of justice and capable of operating at multiple scales, from local communities to global governance. Participants will be exposed to the latest scholarship and emerging directions in the field, offering insight into how legal systems might better meet contemporary environmental demands.

Importantly, the colloquium brings together perspectives from across the professional spectrum. Legal practitioners, policymakers, business leaders and community representatives will contribute alongside academics. This breadth ensures that discussions remain grounded, reflecting theoretical developments alongside the realities of implementation. It is in this interplay between theory and practice that meaningful innovation in environmental law often emerges.

The event is being organised by a dedicated team from UCT’s Faculty of Law, including Professor Sandy Paterson, Director of the Faculty's Institute for Marine & Environmental Law (IMEL), together with Associate Professor Jenny Hall and Dr Denning Metuge. Their involvement reflects the university's institutional expertise as well as a broader commitment to positioning Cape Town as a key site for global environmental law discourse.

There is also a distinctive value in the location itself. South Africa provides a compelling context for examining environmental governance in practice, with its constitutional commitments, rich biodiversity and complex socio-economic landscape. Hosting the colloquium in Cape Town allows participants to engage with these dynamics directly, grounding global debates in a setting where environmental challenges are immediate and tangible.

For those considering participation, the invitation is clear: submitting an abstract offers the opportunity to contribute to a global conversation at a critical time. Participation, whether as a presenter or delegate, provides access to leading ideas and a network of peers committed to advancing environmental law in innovative and practical ways.

As environmental pressures intensify, the need for thoughtful and forward-looking legal responses has never been greater. The 23rd IUCNAEL Colloquium stands as an important moment in that ongoing effort, a place where the future of environmental law will not only be discussed, but actively shaped.

Abstract Deadline - EXTENDED: 30 April 2026. Full conference and abstract submission information is on the IUCNAEL Colloquium site.