Who should attend: All lawyers, both solicitors and litigators, at all levels of experience. This is not a program just for environmental lawyers and lawyers who act in regulated industries.
Learning level: All levels
After the summer's heat dome and wildfires, a growing number of clients are concerned about how climate change and rising global temperatures are impacting the practice of law in many fields. Individual lawyers may not "save the world," but they can help by understanding basic climate science, what it means for our clients' rights, and the role that the law plays in addressing the climate crisis.
Law Society of BC CPD Hours: 5.5 hours (this course will contain a minimum of 1 hour pertaining to professional responsibility and ethics, client care and relations, and/or practice management)
Andrew B. Gage — West Coast Environmental Law, Vancouver
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Raymond Lee
rlee@cle.bc.ca
Andrew Gage has been a Staff Lawyer with West Coast Environmental Law for over two decades and is currently project lead for the organization's Climate Change program. Under his direction, the program has focused on the legal and professional consequences—to industry, government and professionals—of failing to address climate change. Andrew was an expert witness before the Parliamentary Committees considering the Canadian Net Zero Emissions Accountability Act (enacted in 2020) and has published extensively on environmental and climate change law, including academic articles and most recently a book chapter on climate litigation and loss and damage.
Andrew dedicates his work to prevent and minimize the impacts of climate change to his two children.
The Honourable Justice Brian Preston, FRSN SC, Chief Judge — Land and Environmental Court of NSW, Sydney, Australia
Alan Andrews — Ecojustice Canada, Vancouver
Ravipal S. Bains — McMillan LLP, Vancouver
Becky Clissman — Steering Group Member, The Chancery Lane Project, London, England
Elisabeth (Lisa) DeMarco — Senior Partner and CEO, Resilient LLP, Toronto
Dr. Benjamin Franta — PhD Candidate, History of Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Meredith James — Woodward & Co. Lawyers LLP, Victoria
Anna Johnston — West Coast Environmental Law Association, Vancouver
Donald Lidstone, QC — Lidstone & Company, Vancouver
Christie McLeod — Miller Thomson LLP, Vancouver
Richard J. Overstall — Richard J. Overstall Law Office, Penticton
Catherine J. Parker, QC — Arvay Finlay LLP, Victoria
Andrea Rodgers — Senior Litigation Attorney, Our Children's Trust, Seattle, WA
Kari Tyler — Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, University of Victoria, Victoria
Terri-Lynn gidahl-gudsllaay lalaxaaygans Williams-Davidson, QC — White Raven Law Corporation|XUUYA GAADA KILYAHDA, Surrey
Professor Stepan Wood — Centre for Law and the Environment, Peter A. Allard School of Law, UBC, Vancouver
Keynote (9:15 – 9:35)
Climate Science (9:45 – 10:20)
An overview of the science of climate change and how BC is being affected, and will be affected, by rising global temperatures.
Evidentiary Issues Around Climate Change (10:30 – 11:00)
How can we draw the causal and evidentiary links between climate change, the actions of particular parties, and harm caused by climate change?
Incorporating Climate Change Into Your Practice—Part I (11:10 – 12:10)
With clients interested in, and impacted by, climate change more and more, how might lawyers best serve their clients? (Panel 1 of 2)
LUNCH BREAK (12:10 – 1:00)
Roles of Different Levels of Government in Climate Change (1:00 – 1:40)
Senior levels of government are tackling climate change with various levels of success. What have the courts said about the powers of different levels of government and how are those governments using their powers?
Incorporating Climate Change Into Your Practice—Part II (1:50 – 2:30)
Public Interest Climate Litigation (2:40 – 3:30)
Some lawyers and environmental activists see the law as offering a solution to the challenges of climate change. This panel will review some of the cases brought against governments, corporations, and others in Canada and elsewhere to force action on climate change.
Self-reflection (small break-out groups) (3:40 – 3:55)
Participants and speakers are invited to discuss in small groups how they see climate change affecting their practice, and what they could do better to help clients and the world better navigate climate change.
Closing Keynote—The Courts, The Legal Profession, and Climate Change (3:55 – 4:25)
A judge's perspective on the role of lawyers and the judiciary in addressing climate change.
Closing Remarks (4:25 – 4:30)