Call for Abstracts: 24th IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium 2027 on Earth Governance and Planetary Boundaries [University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, 28 June - 2 July 2027]

The Centre for Environmental, Resources and Energy Law (CEREL) at the University of Waikato will host the 24th IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium at its Hamilton campus, New Zealand, from 28 June to 2 July 2027. The Academy's Colloquia are annual international gatherings of specialists in environmental law from across all regions of the world, bringing together academics, judges, lawyers and experts to exchange knowledge, experience and fellowship.

The Colloquium is designed as a hybrid event: in-person attendance is encouraged, but presenters who cannot travel to New Zealand may present via Teams. Workshops run on 28 June 2027, followed by plenary and parallel sessions from 29 June to 2 July 2027. The Distinguished Professorial Lecture will be delivered by Christina Voigt (University of Oslo).

The theme is Earth Governance and Planetary Boundaries: examining transnational governance structures from the perspective of stewardship and sovereignty as trusteeship for the global environment, and driving environmental transformation within planetary boundaries. Suggested sub-themes:

• Living within planetary boundaries: climate change, biodiversity loss, chemical pollution, oceans, freshwater consumption, land use change, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, and atmosphere
• Innovation and transition: the mind-shift from unsustainable consumption and production
• Earth governance and sustainable solutions: guardianship, stewardship and sovereignty as trusteeship for the global environment
• Indigenous governance
• Inclusive and sustainable economic development, respecting universal human rights and living within environmental limits
• Urgent and fixable challenges: renewable energy and the green revolution (sustainable high-yield agriculture)
• Protecting sensitive areas, e.g. coral reefs and polar regions
• Nature based solutions, e.g. biodiversity protection, the bio-economy, the blue economy and sustainable seas
• Wild law and Earth justice
• Earth jurisprudence: ecological law, rights of nature, and ecological perceptions of property

Abstracts that align generally with the theme but fall outside the sub-themes are also welcomed.

A separate call invites Workshop Presenters. Workshop themes: Climate Conscious Lawyering; Environmental Legal Clinics; Global Comparative Environmental Law; PhD Symposium on Earth Governance and Planetary Boundaries (current PhD students present a thesis synopsis of up to 5 minutes for feedback from a panel of environmental law professors); Research; and Teaching and Capacity Building (details of the last two to be announced).

The Colloquium is an international gathering open to academics, judges, lawyers and environmental law experts from all regions of the world, and the Organizing Committee welcomes abstracts from national, regional and international perspectives. Indian scholars and practitioners can submit. Registration fees are tiered by the World Bank income classification of the delegate's institution's country, with concessions for students and members.

• Abstracts must be in English and indicate the title, author names and institutional affiliation.
• Maximum 150 words, with 6 key words.
• Set out the aim of the paper, main points and a brief conclusion.
• No tables, graphs or drawings.
• Complete panel proposals for Parallel Sessions may be submitted by the panel chair; panels comprise four or five presenters including the chair, and each presenter submits an individual abstract naming the proposed panel title.
• Submissions containing drafting or text generated by artificial intelligence will not be accepted.

Fees depend on the World Bank income classification of the country of your member institution or organisation:

• In person, member: High income NZD 835, Middle income NZD 525, Low income NZD 365
• In person, non-member: High income NZD 940, Middle income NZD 575, Low income NZD 365
• In person, student: High income NZD 525, Middle income NZD 315, Low income NZD 210
• Online presenter: Member NZD 155, Non-member NZD 210, Student / Low income NZD 105

In-person fees include all sessions and workshops, teas and lunches, the Colloquium Dinner and social events. A guest or partner at the Colloquium Dinner costs an additional NZD 125. Presenters must register and pay by 30 April 2027; other delegates by 31 May 2027. A Visa support letter is emailed on completion of registration and payment.

Financial support to attend will be available through the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Grant Scheme, administered by the Academy Secretariat; criteria and the application process will be announced in due course.

Approximately 12 to 15 papers presented at the Colloquium will be selected for the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Series published by Edward Elgar. Papers (6,000 to 8,000 words including footnotes, OSCOLA Fifth Edition, with a 150-word abstract and up to six key words) go in Microsoft Word format to the Volume Editors by 3 September 2027.

Edward Elgar Publishing will award two prizes for the best papers presented, one to a New and Emerging Academic (PhD conferred within the last six years) and one to a Senior Academic. Papers for the prize go by email to the Organizing Committee by 30 April 2027; late submissions are not accepted.

Submit your abstract through the electronic submission link on the Colloquium's Theme and Abstracts page, choosing either Call for Abstracts - Parallel Session Presenters or Call for Abstracts - Workshop Presenter. The submission portal shows the window open from 1 October 2026 and closing at 11:59 PM on 28 February 2027 (the portal does not state the time zone; if it is New Zealand time, that is 4:29 PM IST on 28 February, so submit early). Abstracts are acknowledged automatically by email, and acceptance is notified by email on 31 March 2027.