On 15 May 2026, FAU CHREN welcomed Professor Emily Barritt, Junior Chair Professor – Environment and Legal Orders at Dauphine University, Paris–PSL, for a stimulating Human Rights Colloquium on the relationship between climate change, democracy, and environmental law. That brought together researchers and practitioners from across disciplines.
Event recap
Professor Barritt examined the ways in which climate change is reshaping democratic governance. As the urgency of the climate crisis increasingly outpaces the often slow and unpredictable processes of representative democracy, climate-conscious NGOs and environmental defenders have turned to alternative avenues for change, particularly strategic climate litigation and acts of civil disobedience. While these forms of action have become important catalysts for legal and political transformation, they also raise difficult questions about democratic legitimacy and legal stability.
At the centre of Professor Barritt’s analysis was the dynamic legal framework provided by the UNECE Aarhus Convention, which is also the topic of Dr Barritt’s 2022 monograph. Drawing on examples from climate litigation and civil disobedience, she argued that the Convention not only equips states with a blueprint for navigating the legal and democratic disruption associated with climate change but also offers a vision of democratic engagement to address these challenges.
The discussion that followed considered the implications of these arguments for environmental governance in Europe and beyond. Participants reflected on the evolving role of courts in climate governance, the relationship between civil disobedience and the rule of law, and the potential of international environmental human rights instruments to strengthen democratic participation in times of accelerating ecological change.
This event was supported by funding from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, provided to the Chair for Human Rights Law at FAU.
Speaker bio
Professor Emily Barritt is Junior Chair Professor – Environment and Legal Orders at Dauphine University, Paris–PSL. Her research focuses on environmental democracy, access to justice, public participation, stewardship, and climate change adjudication. Alongside her academic work, she serves as a trustee of the Environmental Law Foundation, a UK-based environmental law charity dedicated to improving access to environmental justice.
About the FAU CHREN Human Rights Colloquium
Organized by the FAU Research Center for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU CHREN), our inter- and transdisciplinary brings together scholars and practitioners to discuss current issues in human rights research and practice.
Colloquia are organised on a rolling basis and are co-convened by Dr. Janina Heaphy and Prof. Dr. Eva Pils. Events are invitation-only. Enquiries should be directed to the co-conveners and/or to humanrights@fau.de.
