CCS: New Publication

A new publication has been released titled: Carbon Capture and Storage: Emerging Legal and Regulatory Issues covering developments in international law, as well as the European Union, North America, and Australia, with perspectives from China and India. Finance and questions of public perception and participation receive particular attention. Throughout the study, authors consider significant trends, critically evaluate progress to date, and identify key legal gaps and obstacles that still need to be addressed.

Network for Asia, Australia and Pacific

The Asia Pacific Network for Environmental Governance (APNEG) has recently been founded to promote the interdisciplinary study of governance of the environment at different scales and with an interdisciplinary approach to address complex environmental issues.

Australia Environmental Law Council

The Environmental and Planning Law Group of the Law Council of Australia is holding its 2^nd Environmental Law Symposium in Sydney (Australia) on Friday 25 November titled: "The Future of Environmental Law". The occasion will also honor the contribution that Emeritus Professor Ben Boer and Professor Robert Fowler have made, and continue to make, in both Australia and internationally to the study and teaching of environmental law.

The title of the Symposium is designed to provoke some discussion about the directions and value of environmental law as the 20^th anniversary of the Rio Declaration and the 20^th anniversary of the Framework Convention on Climate Change draw near, as well as what the next 20 years holds for society and the planet

Five sessions during the Symposium will address the themes in the following areas:
- Land;
- Air;
- Water;
- Energy; and
- Courts and Institutions.

Expressions of interest, abstracts, and a short CV are sought from speakers for each of the sessions. The information should be sent to matthewbaird@wentworthchambers.com.au by no later than 15 August 2011. Speakers will be advised by 30 August 2011. Final papers to be provided by 15 November 2011.

Australia: Shark MOU

Australia has signed the CMS MOU on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks, raising the number of signatories to 14.

Australian Government Fact Sheet

ICJ: Australia v. Japan

The International Court of Justice has fixed time-limits or the filing of the initial pleadings in the case concerning Whaling in the Arctic (Australia v. Japan). Australia has until 9 May 2011 to file a Memorial and Japan will have until 9 March 2012 to file a Counter-Memorial. The history of the proceedings can be found in Press Release No. 2010/16 of 1 June 2010 at www.icj-cij.org.

ICJ: Whaling in the Antarctic

Australia instituted proceedings before the ICJ on 1 June, 2010 alleging that:

“Japan's continued pursuit of a large scale programme of whaling under the 2^nd Phase of its Japanese Whale Research Programme under Special Permit in the Antarctic (“JARPA”) [is] in breach of obligations assumed by Japan under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (ICRW), as well as its other international obligations for the preservation of marine mammals and marine environment.”

See press release No. 2010/16 at www.icj-cij.org for more details.