The African Society of International Law (AfSIL) is pleased to announce that the 11th Annual Conference of the Society will take place on 28-29 October 2022, in Cairo, Egypt on the theme: “Africa and the Challenge of Climate Change.” Taking place a week before the onset of the UN Climate Change Conference COP 27 in Egypt, the Conference will be a unique opportunity to explore the climate change crisis through the lens of international law.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”), Africa is among those that have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, yet key development sectors have already experienced widespread losses and damages attributable to climate change, including biodiversity loss, water shortages, reduced food production, loss of lives and reduced economic growth. Despite these challenges, UNDP experts say Africa has the potential to move the world toward a secure climate-resilient future since it has the youngest population, the largest amount of arable land and the greatest potential for restoration. Indeed, important efforts at developing renewable energy and restoring lands and ecosystems are underway on the continent. Both the impacts and the solutions related to climate change touch upon virtually every aspect of international law.
The Conference aims to bring together prominent academics, policymakers, practitioners, and experts to explore the issue of climate change as it relates to various fields of international law with the goal of understanding both the magnitude of the challenges and the opportunities we must seize before it is too late.
The Conference will be held in Cairo, Egypt and also virtually, via Zoom. It will be co-hosted by the leading Cairo law firm Zulficar & Partners.
Speakers
Friday, 28 october 2022
9.00-9.45 am – opening Ceremony
Makane MoIse Mbengue
Professor, University of Geneva, Sciences Po
Raymond Ranjeva
Former Judge, International Court of Justice
Ms. Tafadzwa Pasipanodya
Partner, Foley Hoag LLP, Vice-President of AfSIL
H.E. Raymond Ranjeva
Honorary President of AfSIL, Former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Professor, Cairo University & Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners, Chair of the 11th Annual Conference of AfSIL
Prof. Patricia Kameri-Mbote
Director, Law Division United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
9.50-10.30am – Keynote Speech by Prof. Makane Moïse Mbengue, university of Geneva & Sciences Po Paris, President of AfSIL: Africa’s Contribution to the Climate Change Regime: Back to the Future…
Chair: AMBASSDOR DR.NAMIRA NEGM, Director of the African Migration Observatory
11.00-12.15pm – Panel I: African Perspectives to Climate Change Legal and Institutional Governance
Chair: DR.GUY-FLEURY NTWARI, Legal Counsel, African Union Commission
Stephanie Njiomo
Chargée de programme Climat, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation, Le droit face au défi climatique
Pedi Obani
Associate professor, University of Bradford School of Law, Transnational Litigation and Prospects for Climate Action in Developing Countries
Jean Matringe
Professeur, Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, Appréciation critique de « l’approche par les droits » du changement climatique dans le contexte africain
Halima Doma-Kutigi
Partner, Kutigi & Co, Climate Litigation in Nigeria: Gains, Challenges, and Opportunities
Alkarakpey Méyssouun
Doctorante, Centre de droit public de l’universite de Lomé, L’Afrique dans la Gouvernance climatique mondiale : les enjeux de la mise en œuvre de l’Accord de Paris pour le Continent Africain
1.15-2.30pm – Panel II: Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the African Context
Francesco Luigi Gatta
Post-doctoral Research and Lecturer, University of Tuscia, Climate Change, Food Security and Migration: What Role for the Cooperation between the European Union and the African Union?
Stephanie Naa Oserwa Schandorf
Associate Director, Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute, Ocean Resilience, Climate Change and the African Dilemma
Iga Jozefiak
PhD Candidate, Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Strengthening the Science-Policy Nexus: Lessons for Africa
2.35-3.50pm – Panel III: Climate Change, Trade and the AfCFTA
Chair: Prof. DR MOHAMED ABDEL WAHAB, Dr, Professor, Cairo University & Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners, Chair of the 11th Annual Conference of AfSIL
Anais Cren-Larvor
Chargée de projets de coopération internationale, Astove conseil, Utiliser les Accords de Libre-échange pour Promouvoir de Nouveaux Marchés Verts : Focus sur la ZLECAF et le Commerce des Biens et Services Environnementaux
Uchenna Anyamele
Legal Consultant, Hakakire Legal Consulting Services/Unicaf University, Tackling Climate Change under the African Continental Free Trade Area
Kiai Lusweti Gachanja
Trainee Lawyer, Dentons Hamilton Harrison and Mathews, The AfCFTA: Challenges and Opportunities for MFN, National Treatment and Technical Barriers to Trade in the context of Climate Change Mitigation
Lucas Narciso Pimenta Ricardo
LL.M candidate, University of Bern, Reconciling Trade and Climate: How can the AfCFTA help Address Climate Change in Africa
4.20-5.50pm – Panel Iv: Climate Change and International Investment Law
Ben Sanderson
Of Counsel, DLA Piper, A roadmap for Africa: Reconciling climate change policies and investment law obligations
Isabella Bellera Landa
Associate, White & Case, LLP, Decarbonization in Africa and International Investment Law: Challenges and Opportunities
Mawuto Tossa
Editor and West Africa Regional Representative, Afronomicslaw Academic Forum, Concilier Attraction des Investissements et Action pour le Climat : la Contribution des Organisations Régionales Africaines
Justice Osei-Afriyie
Ph.D candidate, University of Liverpool School of Law and Social Justice, Investment Law Policy Reforms of African States in the Age of Climate Governance: A Paradigm Shift or The Changing Guard?
John P. Belinga
Associate, DLA Piper, Climate Change and the Prospect of Deregulatory Takings Claims in Investment Law
Rimdolmsom Jonathan Kabre
Academic Director, University of Pretoria, Climate Change and/in the Settlement of Investment Disputes: The Impossible Convergence?
Cocktail Reception
Dr. Jasmine Moussa
Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Prof. Nilufer Oral
National University of Singapore
Dr. Guy-Fleury Ntwari
Legal Counsel, African Union Commission
Saturday, 29 october 2022
9.30-10.15am – Keynote speech and conversation
Annette Magnusson
Co-founder, Climate Change Counsel
10.20-11.35am – Panel V: Climate Change, the Environment, Sustainable Development and Security
Margareta Werwrinke
Assistant Professor, University of Leiden, The Quest for an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on Climate Change
Emmanuel Guematcha
Maître de conférences, Université de Guyane, Changement climatique et justice transitionnelle en Afrique
Pieter Van Welzen
Senior Consultant, CMS South Africa, The Role of Financial Institutions under International Law to Address Climate Change
Hala Ahmed Rashidy
Associate professor, University of Cairo, A Dialectic Relationship: How do Environmental Challenges Affect Human Security? Climate Change and Armed Conflict Nexus in Africa as a Case Study
Aubin Nzaou-Kongo
Postdoctoral fellow, University of Houston Law Center, The African Union and the Governance of the Climate-Energy Nexus
11.50am-1.05pm – Panel vI: Climate Change and Human and Peoples’ Rights
Olalekan Moyosore Lalude
Ph.D candidate, Babcock University School of Law and Security Studies, Crystal Clear Our Waters Gleamed: Protecting the Right to a Safe and Healthy Environment in Africa
Yusra Suedi
Postdoctoral fellow, London School of Economics & Political Science, Admissibility Challenges in Climate Change Litigation before the African System of Human Rights
Bonheur Minzoto
Ph.D. candidate, University of Manchester, Human Rights and Climate Change Litigation in Africa: Can the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitrage Adjudicate?
Mariam Hiba Malik
Researcher, Pretoria Institute of Security Studies, The Climate-Crisis-Gender-Based Violence Nexus: An Opportunity for Artificial Intelligence?
2.00-3.25pm – roundtable in Partnership with ASIL 2022 Signature Topic and the Geneva Experts Group on Trade and Climate Action: CoP27 and Beyond: Strengthening Cooperation for Climate Action
3.30-4.30pm – Business Perspective on Renewable Energy Transition in Africa: Challenges and opportunities
Closing Ceremony
Chair: ISABELLE ROUCHE, Partner, Asafo & Co, Secretary General of AfSIL
Ambassador Dr. Namira Negm
Director of the African Union Observatory for Migration
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Abdel Wahab
Professor, Cairo University & Founding Partner, Zulficar & Partners, Chair of the 11th Annual Conference of AfSIL
Makane Moise Mbengue
President of AfSIL
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