EMPOWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAWYERS TO TACKLE THE CLIMATE CRISIS

GREEN LAW MISSION STATEMENT

GreenLaw works in partnership with the Law Reform and Social Justice Program at the ANU College of Law.

We are a young person-led organisation empowering and leveraging the passion of the next generation of lawyers to tackle the climate crisis. Through legal research tasks, GreenLaw aims to empower environmentally-conscious organisations to engage effectively with legal institutions.

Acknowledgement of Country

We recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders nations that are the first sovereigns of our nation and have an enduring connection to these lands, waters and communities. GreenLaw meets on Ngunnawal and Ngambri country, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. Indigenous respect and guardianship over the Australian land is an integral part of environmental justice and must be acknowledged for the realisation of environmental justice in this country.

ABOUT GREEN LAW

We carry out environmental law research in collaboration with academics, NGOs, the private and public sectors

WHAT WE DO

Law is more than litigation. Law provides the building blocks of society, and to change the law is to improve our future.

But the environmental movement is currently limited in its capacity to enact legal change. It is expensive to engage lawyers, to develop submissions and to lobby Parliament – and across the environmental movement, few organisations can take up this work.

As such, the focus has been on the most urgent environmental cases, often through litigation, but broader policy reform to achieve climate justice needs something more. That’s where we come in.

GreenLaw is a young-person led organisation empowering the next generation of lawyers. We work with law schools and academics to refine the legal research and advocacy skills of our members. Climate justice intersects with all areas of the law, and our projects reflect that diversity, allowing students with a range of interests to engage and develop their skills.

GreenLaw fills the resource gap for environmental organisations, advocates and other champions for climate justice. We provide legal research and policy development in collaboration with our organisational partners and with the support of world-class academics.

We are creating a network of future lawyers and environmental organisations to lay the building blocks of a more sustainable, compassionate future.

WHY WE DO IT

We recognise that we are part of the environment, that it has intrinsic value and must be taken care of by all. We have a responsibility to respect our environment and must care for the environment for its own sake. In doing so, we work towards a balance between human society and the natural world.

We have the responsibility to instill this value in future generations and to ensure environmental justice is articulated and achieved by means that protect our most vulnerable.

To achieve this vision of environmental justice, we bring these core values to our work and organisation:

Compassion – Compassion is having empathy for others and the strength to work towards alleviating suffering. Environmental justice occupies an emotionally difficult space. Compassion means recognising and respecting the strength of ourselves, the people we work with and all living beings.

Empowerment – We will empower our team to be the change we want to see in the world, to be instrumental in bringing about real change for intra- and inter-generational equity. We are a part of the broader movement to empowering our members, partner organisations and the public to further environmental justice.

Connection – GreenLaw is a conduit between law students, environmental organisations and the broader community. We are a network of empowerment, allowing law students to fight for change and enabling environmental groups to be that change.

We recognise the community, between each other, our partners and our environment. We understand the indigenous connection to the land and indigenous stewardship over the places we are seeking to protect.

Innovation – To address climate change, we must radically alter our society, economy, the legal system, and personal lives. As a movement led by young people, these fundamental changes must be reflected by GreenLaw in its purpose and its management.

We embrace innovation and flexibility, starting with our control, and moving outwards to influence the broader climate justice movement.

MEET THE TEAM

Our members are the backbone of GreenLaw. They have a wide variety of interests, backgrounds and skills – but we are unified in our passion for climate justice and a fairer future for everyone.

The GreenLaw story began at the ANU College of Law, and we are proud to have so many ANU law students in our team and the support of many pre-eminent academics.

Annika-Reynolds

MEET OUR FOUNDER AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)

ANNIKA REYNOLDS

Annika is a young Queer leader in the environment movement, advocating for a more inclusive vision of climate justice. They founded GreenLaw in 2019 and they are its ongoing CEO.

Annika is the Youth Chair of Environment and Human Rights, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and an Advisory Member of the ANU Fenner School’s Research Hub on Gender, Human Rights and Climate Change convened by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change to advise him on the gendered impacts of climate change. In 2022 they were appointed a Visiting Fellow at the ANU College of Law, their research explores how rights of nature can be integrated into government decision-making.

They are also the Co-Founder of the Rainbow Bee-Eaters LGBTIQA+ Group for connecting the Queer community to nature in the ACT and was appointed to the LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Council to the ACT Government in late 2021. Also in 2021, Annika was awarded the Michael Kirby AC CMG scholarship under the Pinnacle Foundation in recognition of their leadership within the Queer community

Annika is a graduate of the Australian National University with a first class Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of International Security Studies, minoring in Korean (2021). They are a published researcher on environmental law, human rights and climate change topics.

Annika has been a research assistant to leading environmental academics, a legal research consultant for the Australian Conservation Foundation, a researcher in the Australian Commonwealth Parliament and worked in private law. Annika is also a recognised national and international speaker on climate action, youth empowerment and legal change, with a national platform that includes interviews in The Guardian and contributions to Women’s Agenda, The Canberra Times and Pro Bono News.

They have a black belt in karate and are a proud indoor plant parent. Annika is currently on a period of leave.

Sarah-Mack

MEET OUR CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER (COO) AND ACTING CEO

SARAH MACK

Sarah was motivated to join GreenLaw when it was established in 2019 because she believes young people need to mobilise more effectively to achieve climate justice. Sarah has been heavily involved in women in the law mentoring programs and is especially passionate about advocating for minority voices in the climate movement.

Sarah is a current Law (Honours)/Political Science, Philosophy and Economics student at the Australian National University. She is also fluent in French with a Diplome Approfondi de Langue Francais, Level C1. Sarah is a current student editor for the Federal Law Review at the ANU College of Law and has just completed a prestigious internship with the Global Pro Bono Bar Association.

In 2019 – 2020, Sarah was the Partnerships Coordinator for Jasiri Australia, a program that places young women with State and Federal Parliamentarians to work towards gender equality. She has also been a long-term volunteer with the Salvation Army.

Sarah likes to spend a quiet Sunday evening baking and is an Agatha Christie aficionado.

MEET OUR HEAD OF COMMUNITY

EMMA BRYANT

Emma was thrilled to join the GreenLaw in 2020, as she has long believed that there should be a prominent space to empower and enable passionate law students to use their skills for climate action. Emma is GreenLaw’s Head of Community, focused on building an inclusive and compassionate culture at GreenLaw and organising team events, speaker’s series and other opportunities.

Emma is a current Law (Honours)/Arts student at ANU, with a major in Environmental Studies. She is a Research Assistant for Climate Strategy Advisers, undertaking consultancy work on a range of national and international projects relating to climate change communication and mitigation. She is also a current volunteer at the Environmental Defenders Office ACT.

Emma was a Youth Delegate to the UNFCCC COP25 and Conference of Youth 5, where she was in roundtable conservations and workshops on global responses to climate change. She has also completed international-first research for the International Union for Conservation of Nature on discrepancies between international and domestic laws in the Philippines for species conservation under the Convention of International Trades in Endangered Species.

Emma loves to rework old clothes on the sewing machine and open water swims.

MEET OUR SOCIAL MEDIA OFFICER

PETA BULLING

Peta is an Environmental Scientist, nature and human rights activist and Laws (Honours) student studying at the Australian National University. She was motivated to join GreenLaw because there is a need for more lawyers with an education in science to contribute to the achievement of environmental justice.

She has been a Research Advocate with GreenLaw since mid-2021 and previously worked in climate change and renewable energy advocacy. Peta is also a Biodiversity Campaigner at the Conservation Council of the ACT Region. She is a published researcher on the human right to a healthy environment and has previously contributed to the Smart Energy Magazine.

As a Queer Person of Colour, Peta is devoted to environmental justice and minority representation in environmental policy.

In her spare time, Peta is a keen surfer and fanatical dog mother to Mr Edmund Wigglington.

GET INVOLVED

GREENTEA PROGRAM

GreenTea was created for the members of GreenLaw to help us process and cope with the difficult emotions that might arise through our work. This program has been designed in collaboration with Christie Wilson, a trained psychotherapist specialising in ecological grief, to walk us through various self-care techniques and practical steps.

For GreenLaw to be an effective leader in the environmental justice space, we need to be innovative. We cannot achieve climate justice without caring for ourselves, for it is our drive, compassion and emotional intelligence that compels us to work in this space.

Climate advocacy takes courage. But courage is not sustainable without community and care.

GreenLaw aims to empower the next generation of young lawyers to understand how environmental law will affect all fields of law, and indeed all aspects of our lives, and to utilise the law as a force for change and hope.

One of the best things we can do for ourselves is to learn how to look after ourselves so that we can have the greatest impact possible, both as members of GreenLaw and as individuals in whatever path we may choose to follow later in life.

What does GreenTea involve?

We meet regularly in a safe space to explore the regenerative culture and manage our mental wellbeing as a connected and supportive team.

The half of the program works to connect law students to the environment on the country by collaborating with Indigenous custodians of the Ngunnawal region – going on bush walks, doing nature restoration and learning about Indigenous culture and history.

We believe, in Australia, that environmental justice is inextricably linked to Indigenous justice. That is why our GreenTea program works to integrate Indigenous values and understandings into the very foundation of GreenLaw’s philosophy.

GET INVOLVED

CURRENT PROJECTS

We welcome all law students who are passionate about furthering climate justice to contact us to get involved. We have a range of active projects, to suit your interest in law and give you the opportunity to advocate for the law reform that you believe is important.

OUR CURRENT PROJECTS INCLUDE:

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Right to a Healthy Environment in ACT Law Campaign

GreenLaw is working with Australian Lawyers for Human Rights and the Conservation Council of the ACT Region to research and draft a policy paper on the right to a healthy environment and how it can be enshrined in ACT law. This policy paper will underpin a public campaign from next year to see law reform to the Human Rights Act of the ACT. Email GreenLaw at Green_Law@outlook.com if you are interested in getting involved!

Project Lead: Peta Bulling

Estimated Due Date: December 2022

Estimate Time Commitment: 2 – 3 hours per week

Research Series on a Climate Duty of Care

GreenLaw has been commissioned by the Environmental Defenders Office to research and draft a series of research reports into the feasibility of a climate duty of care being recognised at a State level. This research builds on the seminal Sharma case that was handed down this year and will inform the next generation of climate litigation in Australia. If you are interested in contributing please fill out the following EOI: https://forms.gle/VGpBcH9QCdn5sKYq6

Project Lead: Lauren Sandeman and Isabella Boone

Estimated Due Date:  October 2022

Estimate Time Commitment: 3 – 4 hours per week

Accelerating the Phaseout of Gas in the ACT

In collaboration with the Conservation Council of the ACT, GreenLaw is undertaking major research into the phasing out of gas in the ACT energy system. This research aims to contribute to accelerating the ACT’s phaseout of gas and equitable energy law reform. Please fill out the following EOI if you are interested in getting involved: https://forms.gle/H2c55NWc5mwmJoF87

Project Lead: TBC

Estimated Due Date: March 2022

Estimate Time Commitment: 2 – 4 hours per week

Legal Framework for a National Sustainable Agriculture Strategy

In collaboration with Farmers for Climate Action and ANU legal academics, GreenLaw is preparing a review of the Constitutional barriers and opportunities for a national sustainable agriculture strategy. The report will analyse the division of powers over land management between the Commonwealth and the States, and review viable legal frameworks for a national strategy.

Project Lead: Siena Hopkinson

Estimated Due Date: May 2020 – May 2023

Estimate Time Commitment: 1 – 2 hours per week

CONTACT US

Whether you’re a prospective member or external organisation looking to work with us, we’d love to hear from you!

Send us mail

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