The video recording and the lecture manuscript are now available. What is more, we interviewed Dr Voigt for a podcast episode.
Dr Christina Voigt is Professor at the Department of Public and International Law at the University of Oslo and Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law. She began her lecture with a reflection around the concept of climate justice, and how we are starting to see alignment between this concept and international climate law. This evolving legal landscape is in large part driven by the recent climate change Advisory Opinions coming from the world’s top courts. Most notably, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an Advisory Opinion on the obligations of states in respect to climate change in July 2025. This clarifies the legal responsibilities that states have for developing and implementing climate plans which are in line with the 1.5°C target and reflect the state’s ‘highest possible ambition’.
Christina Voigt spoke from experience as a scholar, but also as former principal legal advisor to Norway in the UN climate change negotiations, including during the negotiations for the Paris Agreement. Drawing on this background, she emphasized how these clarifications by the ICJ are crucially important, as they demonstrate that even in the absence of internationally negotiated frameworks and roadmaps, states already have the legal duty to take all adequate measures to phase out fossil fuels. On a final remark, she underscored that the law is not everything when it comes to climate action: “We need all hands on deck: Every sector, every discipline, every level of governance, everywhere”.
The lecture was followed by a conversation with Ida Edling, Spokesperson and Legal and Scientific Coordinator at Aurora, a youth organization using law as a tool for advancing climate action in Sweden. The discussion was moderated by Michele Poletto, Adviser, Climate Change and Democracy, International IDEA. It centered on the wave and impact of climate litigation and the role that courts play in holding politics to account. Ida Edling emphasized the importance of integrating intergenerational, intragenerational, interspecies justice perspectives. It was also highlighted how–despite an uncertain international environment–most countries remain committed to climate action, and we are, albeit too slowly, witnessing real progress.
About the authors
