Law at the End of the World

In this episode, we explore the tension inherent in researching environmental law in the context of an increasingly politicised research context. We share Liz's inaugural professorial lecture from October 2024, and Cristy uses the opportunity to interview Liz about why she researchers water law. We discuss typical problems encountered in settler-colonial water law frameworks, and how innovative governance models, like that for the Whanganui River in Aotearoa New Zealand, suggest potentail other ways for governing human-water relationships. As always, Cristy and Liz explore recent developments in environmental law, water governance, climate change policies, and Indigenous rights, sharing insights and updates on key legal cases and policy reforms in Australia and beyond. Key hilights include a public law climate case in Aotearoa, a judicial review about engagement with First Nations about water allocation decisions in Australia, and a win for the case opposing oil and gas exploration off the coast of South Africa.Video of Liz's Professorial LectureWhy science must reinforce its social contract | Natureon Science Communication. - by Peter Dearden - SnarkedSetting a pluralist agenda for water governance: Why power and scale matter Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu - headstartIwi proposal would reshape councils around mountains and riversMichael John Smith v Attorney-GeneralHigh Court rules in favour of native title holders fighting Northern Territory water licence Court Awards $62 Million to Isabel Communities Over Unlawful LoggingLandmark judgment in South Africa permanently halts Shell’s Wild Coast oil and gas explorationWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Cristy and Liz explore academic career planning with our very special guest, Professor Inger Mewburn (AKA The Thesis Whisperer), who talks to us about her own academic career, her current research, her work with PhD students and neurodivergent academics, and the under-rated skill of project management for researchers (the subject of her latest book). As usual, we also share recent developments in domestic and international environmental law, including climate change litigation, water rights, and heritage protection.https://thesiswhisperer.comManaging Your Research Project: A Guide for ResearchersClimate adaptation without funding is planning without delivery | EDS Under the Lens | Podcast on SpotifyNZ’s overhaul of nature protection laws is a chance to move away from ‘fortress conservation’NZ's climate goals off-track - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre Hard Truths CasePapunya Climate Safe Housing CaseAustralian Conservation Foundation Inc; Friends of Australian Rock Art Inc v Minister for the Environment and Water & AnorWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Mihnea Tănăsescu joins us to discuss his groundbreaking research on Ecocene Politics. Mihnea reflects on how we can conceptualise human relationships with nature, with particular attention to learning from place-based restoration projects and Indigenous legal systems. We critically explore how hope, despair, and lucidity can help or hinder our attempts to make sense of the ecological challenges communities are facing around the world. We also discuss the ways that legal and political theory scholars can draw on and connect to other academic disciplines, like ecology, and use fieldwork to ground their thinking in lived experiences and place.As always, Cristy and Liz round off with their updates about environmental law developments, including further developments in Aotearoa's climate tort saga and the status of Aborignal cultural heritage reform and climate litigation in Australia.Profile of Mihnea Tanasescu (UMONS) Ecocene PoliticsResearching river personhood: Making the case for relational research methodsLaw and the Environment: An Act of Legal Kintsugi?Woodside case Australian position on fossil fuels and renewablesWestern Australia and Aboriginal heritage Inequality lab global justice project Complaint laid with Ombudsman about 'apparent withholding' of information by PM's officeCommittee recommends disestablishing Environment Ministry despite public oppositionWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Associate Professor Erin O'Donnell (U Melbourne) joins us as a guest co-host to chat with us about the perils, pitfalls, and promise of researching in the burgeoning field of rights of nature. We discuss the top methodological challenges inherent in doing research about the rights of nature and legal personhood, and provide our thoughts about how to do this sort of work ethically and in a way that contributes to the scholarly field, the community, and nature itself.As always, we round off with our updates about developments in environmental law including cases, legislation, and policy changes. Highlights include international pressure to implement the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change, climate litigation in Australia, and fisheries and conservation reforms and government interference with climate litigation in Aotearoa New Zealand.People, Place and Nature in Indigenous-Settler RelationsDoing research about relational water governance… relationally: Critical methodological reflections about legal research on river personhoodUN experts urge states to support General Assembly resolution operationalising ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate obligationsClimate Change in the High Court of AustraliaStatutory Consultation open: Environmental Offsets StandardRiver Thames in London gets first official bathing spot on Friday3rd Global Citizenship Education HubMissed opportunities in the Fisheries Amendment BillThe quiet but major shift slipped in among the conservation law reformsNew plans to encourage private investment in natureClimate law changes have 'clearly struck a nerve'Mercury NZ Ltd v Māori Land Court 2026-NZCA-91.pdf Ours Not Mines Limited v Hauraki District Council [2026] NZCA 138 Recommendations-for-ethical-engagement-of-IKS-within-the-IPCCWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Cristy interviews Liz about her Blue Carbon Futures research program. While it’s been claimed that blue carbon ecosystems can sequester up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, the legal frameworks needed to protect and restore them are fragmented, contested, and in many cases, underdeveloped. Liz unpacks how ownership disputes, traditional land law boundaries, and colonial legacies create hurdles for Indigenous communities trying to restore and finance these vital wetlands.Priority questions for the next decade of blue carbon scienceTe Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Minister of Conservation 2026High Court pauses Ngāi Tahu challenge to Conservation reformsSmiler v Attorney-General [2026] NZHC 375Our Freshwater 2026 Tō Tātou Wai Māori Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility v. Santos Ltd UniSuper referred to ASIC over alleged greenwashingACF adds new ground to North West Shelf case MACH Energy Australia v DAMSHEG & AnorNT's McArthur River MineThe Future of Freshwater 3nd Global Citizenship Education HubTransforming food systems through human rightsWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode we are joined by lawyer and activist Pía Weber Salazar who discusses her collective work securing legal protections for free flowing rivers in Chile. Pía explains how communities and activist coalitions are working together to protect entire river systems. This work focuses on the implementation of water flow reserves in the Futalefú and Puelo Rivers in Chilean Patagonia, where almost all of the rivers' flow is now protected, despite fierce competition from extractive industries and fragmented regulations. Pía emphasises how legal, community, academic and advocacy efforts can come together to secure better futures for rivers and related communities, and identifies the challenges that lie ahead.  As always, Cristy and Liz round off with recent developments in environmental law, including new developments in climate litigation from Europe, Australia and Aotearoa, the ongoing legal battle against nitrate polution in Canterbury, and large-scale resource management reforms underway in Aotearoa. Futaleufú and Puelo Become Chile’s First Protected RiversTowards a Holistic Environmental Flow Regime in ChileTowards durable legal protections for rivers in ChileEvolving rights to (and of) water in ChileNo more ministry for the EnvironmentAssessment framework for carbon removalsChanges to National Direction under the RMAMACA litigationFreshwater litigation in CanterburyELI v ECanClimate Clinic Aotearoa v Minister of Energy and ResourcesOxford Water Network Talking about Methods | Frontiers of Sociolegal StudiesWATER SHELF PODCAST: "Legal Geographies of Water" by Cristy ClarkAsmania et al. vs Holcim - ECCHR: Rising sea levels: An island fights against its demise ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2026:1347, Rechtbank Den Haag, C/09/659832 / HA ZA 24-53 (English translation)Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Cristy and Liz share Part Two of their LSAANZ Conference special on Rights and Resilience.  The episode brings highlights from the December 2025 Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, held in Ōtautahi Chirstchurch. The theme of the Conference was Rights, Relationality, Resilience, Reciprocity, and this episode focuses on sharing insights and advances from days two and three of the Conference - including book launches, Conference dinner, and Conference closing. The core hilight of the episode is a recording from the second keynote panel presentation on Rights and Resilience with Dr Keakaokawai Varner Hemi (U Waikato), Associate Professor and Rutherford Discovery Fellow Sereana Naepi (U Auckland), and Associate Professor Julia Dehm (La Trobe) beautifully curated by Cristy. This panel centres and champions the leadership of young Pacific leaders taking climate change to the highest court on the planet, and challenges all of us working in universities to make them places deserving of Māori and Pacific scholars, students, and communities. The episode is the second of two episodes bringing Conference highlights, and focuses on the Conference themes of Rights and Resilience, with particular focus on these concepts in the context of climate change, Pacific peoples, and education.Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Cristy and Liz share Part One of their LSAANZ Conference special on Relationality and Reciprocity.  The episode brings highlights from the December 2025 Law and Society Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, held in Ōtautahi Chirstchurch. The theme of the conference was Rights, Relationality, Resilience, Reciprocity, and this episode focuses on sharing insights and advances from day one of the conference - including the early career workshop, conference opening, reception, and book prizes. The core hilight of the episode is a recording from the first keynote panel presentation on Relationality and Reciprocity with Māori leader Gerrard Albert (Whanganui Iwi), First Nations leader, scholar, activist and artist Professor Anne Poelina (University of Notre Dame and Martuwarra River Council), beautifully curated by Associate Professor Erin O'Donnell (University of Melbourne, Birrarung Council). The episode is the first of two episodes bringing Conference highlights, and focuses on the Conference themes of Relationality and Reciprocity, with particular focus on these concepts in the context of water governance, climate change, and Indigenous sovereignty.Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this conversation, César Rodríguez-Garavito (NYU Law) reflects on his fascinating academic career, explaining his drive to produce 'action research' that enables a positive impact for communities and the environment. He reflects on the balance between academic commitments and advocacy work (especially for Indigenous communities), the critical importance of distributed teams of collaborators, and his innovative approach to using art and multimedia to attract attention to an important cause. The discussion also covers the origins and evolution of the More-than-Human Life programme he leads at NYU, his hacks for personal career management, and advice for early career researchers seeking to make meaningful contributions beyond academia. Cristy and Liz round off with their environmental law updates, including international and transnational developments around climate change, river rights and the rights of nature, changes to fast track and climate legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand and environmental legislation in Australia, and the latest environmental case law developments from around the globe.César Rodríguez-GaravitoMoth - More Than Human LifeAmphibious researchThe Earth Rights Research & Action (TERRA NYU Law) - Center for Human Rights and Global JusticeThe Thesis WhispererEcuador’s Voters Protect Rights of Nature, Reject Proposal to Rewrite ConstitutionPreservación ecosistémica: Por primera vez MOP declara reservas de aguas en cuencas de ríos Futaleufú y PueloLady Tureiti Moxon’s human rights complaint accepted by the United NationsNew Zealand awarded dubious 'Fossil of the Day' at COP30 climate talksKey-concerns-with-the-Fast-track-Approvals-Amendment-Bill.pdf EXPLAINER: Changes announced to the Climate Change Response Act 2002 Challenging the EPA’s regulatory failure on glyphosate — Environmental Law InitiativeOtākiri SC CaseBeyond problem-solving and systems thinkingTowards durable legal protections for rivers in ChileTorres Strait Islanders appeal federal court decision on landmark climate caseASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of Law at the End of the World, we kick off our new ‘Research Skills Series’. In this first installment, Liz shares her extensive experience of obtaining and administering research funding in a practical, skills-focused discussion. She covers her grant history (successes and failures), key lessons about writing successful applications, common misconceptions, and the realities of managing and delivering grant-funded projects. Liz emphasises the importance of building relationships, writing for interdisciplinary audiences, and the significant administrative work involved in running grants. Cristy and Liz also discuss major environmental law developments including New Zealand's controversial marine and coastal legislation, Australia's upcoming EPBC amendments, climate litigation from Bonaire, and new research challenging the effectiveness of carbon offsets.Marine law change angers Māori activist: 'We don't have any rights'New marine protections in the Hauraki GulfEnvironmental Law Initiative v EPAGovernment almost halves methane reduction target, farmers celebrateMajor changes to climate-related disclosures announcedOur Marine Environment 2025Big shakeup for NZ's research fundingA/80/117: Report of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation Webinar - Capacity Building on developing Amicus Curiae for the African Court's Advisory Opinion... ADLEG Submission on DDA Review (2025).pdf Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode we are joined by critical environmental law scholar Emily Jones to explore the intersections of environmental law, feminism, and academia. Emily discusses her personal journey into academia, the role of feminist theory in environmental law, and the implications of post-human feminism. She makes the case for including more-than-human-rights in the concept of future generations, and discusses the eay in which feminist legal theory can help everyone. We also discuss the importance of collaboration in academia, the intersection of doctrinal and critical legal approaches, and the challenges faced by scholars in navigating their careers. As usual, Cristy and I round off with recent developments in environmental law, including a new General Comment on economic, social, and cultural rights, and the increasing trend of climate litigation. We pay tribute to influential environmental leaders and discuss the implications of a wide range of environmental laws, from international treaties to managing local environmental challenges such as nitrate pollution.Who Benefits – a spotlight on lobbying, influence and powerEmily JonesNo future for future generations: who is international environmental law for?The Rights of Nature as a Legal Response to the Global Environmental Crisis?Feminist Theory and International Law: Posthuman PerspectivesPosthuman Convergences: Transdisciplinary Methods and PracticesInternational Law and Posthuman TheorySupreme Court - Ellis74 countries have now ratified a landmark treaty to protect the high seas. Why hasn’t NZ?Protecting orange roughy New findings on nitrates in rural drinking waterFighting nitrate pollution in Canterbury: MHVGlobal climate litigationRight to a healthy environment Webinar RegistrationCalled to the Bar: International Law over Drinks General comment No. 27 (2025)Inter-American Commission on Human RightsSyv modevirksomheder retter ind efter greenwashing  &nbWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

Our guest for this episode is Alessandro Pelizzon, legal academic and author of Ecological Jurisprudence: The Law of Nature and the Nature of Law. We discuss the evolution of ecological jurisprudence, the importance of humility, the intersection of theory and practice, and the impact of utopian imaginings on legal paradigms. Liz and Cristy also highlight the critical role of language in legal scholarship - particularly in comparative contexts - reflecting on the significance of empirical methods in legal research and the need to understand the place-based and historical context of legal language. As usual, the episode finishes with our updates of recent developments environmental law, including some recent water law jurisprudence in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia's climate targets, and legislative reforms for access to nature in the UK.Ecological Jurisprudence: The Law of Nature and the Nature of Law | SpringerLink ELI v ECAN and MHVHigh Court finds errors in nitrogen discharge consent — but law changes protect pollutersTaking action on nitrate | Environment CanterburyECan declares ‘nitrate emergency’ amid drinking water concernsFor Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, we look at the journey of te reo Māori in our courtsAlbanese unveils ‘responsible’ new climate target to slash emissions over next decade | Australian politics | The GuardianAustralia’s biggest gas project greenlit to 2070 with ‘partial’ protection for Indigenous rock art | EnvironmentNational Climate Risk AssessmentClimate litigation against Holcim: decision draws closer Outdoors For All Report Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Cristy Clark and Elizabeth Macpherson explore the intersections of climate change with the rights of children, future generations, and to care, as well as the question of how to have an impact as an academic. Our guest Aoife Nolan shares her journey into legal academia and beyond, discussing her commitment to children's rights and socio-economic justice. She explores the interconnections between austerity politics and rights, and her approach to balancing academic work with policy engagement. Aoife offers valuable advice for early career researchers on building networks and navigating their careers while maintaining balance and self-compassion, and also emphasises the need for later career academics to provide opportunities.Liz and Cristy finish up by discussing new developments in environmental law, including recent case law related to climate change, Indigenous rights, and environmental law. The conversation also explores the recent Inter-American Court advisory opinion on the right to care, and consumer law's role in combating greenwashing.Takutai Moana Victory for RuapukeRiverbeds' in Māori customary marine titleCorte Interamericana de Derechos HumanosPosthuman ConvergencesClimate KidsA Critical Feminist Evaluation of Climate Adaptation LawThe Racial Discrimination Act at 50Cooper v Minister for Environment and Water [2025] FCA 1009Burrup Peninsula rulingCourt upholds DUH's lawsuit re Apple watchesSwiss Mitigation caseA Human Rights approach to the energy Just TransitionTanya Plibersek approved water plan without readingWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of 'Law at the End of the World', hosts Elizabeth Macpherson and Cristy Clark interview Dr Erin O'Donnell, water law expert and author of 'Legal Rights for Rivers', about her journey from desert ecology to pioneering research on river personhood and Indigenous water justice.Erin discusses her groundbreaking work on legal rights for rivers, her role on the Birrarung Council, the voice of Melbourne's Yarra River, and her current research exploring how treaty processes could address 'aqua nullius' and increase traditional owner power in water governance. The conversation covers research methodologies that prioritise Indigenous partnership and reciprocity, the temporality of relational governance, and practical approaches to recognising rivers as living entities. The episode concludes with updates on significant environmental law developments including the ICJ climate advisory opinion and recent legislative changes across jurisdictions.Dr Erin O'Donnell The bill that will torch Māori-Crown relationsResponse to the Government’s limitations on judicial review under the Fisheries ActResource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill 105-3 (2024))Millewa-Mallee native title win gives traditional owners exclusive rightsCowichan Tribes v. CanadaInternational Law and Posthuman TheoryThe Māori values that make good sense in scienceObligations of States in respect of Climate ChangeInter-American Court of Human Rights Advisory OpinionRiver Test MotionUnyoke the Sciences From the HumanitiesWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of 'Law at the End of the World', hosts Elizabeth Macpherson and Cristy Clark discuss the intersection of environmental law and human rights, and launch Cristy's new book, Legal Geographies of Water: The Spaces, Places and Narratives of Human-Water Relations.Cristy and Liz explore the lessons from the wideranging water governance case studies in Cristy's groundbreaking book, including England and Wales, Flint and Detroit, Chile, South Africa, Manila and the Whanganui River in Aotearoa New Zealand across water commodification, financialisation and relationality. Their conversation emphasises the importance of community-led, grassroots water governance and Cristy makes the case for a fundamental reconceptualisation of human-water relationships to achieve more equitable water governance. The episode concludes with updates on latest developments in environmental law.Show notesCristy CLARKLegal Geographies of WaterTotal chaos’ on EurostarGreenwashing renewable gasFracking legal challengeBig Oil Wrongful DeathShell oil pollutionConservation without consentDefossilizing our economiesClimate conscious lawyerTrends in climate change litigationHow unusual is this UK heat and is climate change to blame?Māori landowners take Crown to High courtECan and irrigator drop appealsAn aspirational approach to planetary futuresMeasuring human progressFrance Targets Fast FashionWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of Law at the End of the World, hosts Cristy & Liz discuss updates in environmental law, focusing on the concept of ecocide and its implications for justice. Dr Rachel Killean joins to discuss how her experiences in Cambodia shaped her focus on transitional and environmental justice. She introduces her upcoming book, Green Transitional Justice   and reflects on the value of reparative approaches and curiosity in research. Show notesLondon Climate Action Week Vegan Gluten-Free Banana Bread Just CauseGovernment undermines regional powers to protect coastal biodiversityWetland restoration is seen as sunk costBiodiversity Credits, Stolen Land, and the Risk of Recolonising AotearoaEpisode 239: Legacies of Colonialism, Dr. Olivia MasonWorld’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserveMelanesian Ocean ReserveWoodside's gas extension: another legal challenge Revealed: the astonishing emissions that will result from the North West Shelf project Pabai Pabai & Anor v Commwealth of AustraliaBilly & others v. AustraliaWalk for Truth: Yoorrook Justice Commission Please consider following and sharing our podcastWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this special episode of Law at the End of the World, we feature a discussion with leading ocean governance experts Dr Karen Fisher, Dr Emily Parke, Associate Professor Dan Hikuroa & Linda Faulkner. Recorded live during an event aligned with the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, they dive into the future of ocean law and governance.Guests unpack the complexities of marine regulation, urging inclusive approaches that centre Indigenous knowledge, local perspectives, and western science. Liz and Cristy reflect through the lens of legal pluralism and share their hot takes on recent legal developments.This one’s a little longer - feel free to dip into the parts that resonate (pun intended)Show notes:Tonga Rights of Whales Sustainable SeasRights of Nature: a Legal Response to the Environmental Crisis? Waka-TauruaEcocideRaelene Cooper v Minister for Environment and Water (Fed Court)Court battle to protect MurujugaHandbook on Climate LitigationIndigenous-led Rights-based Approaches to Climate LitigationOcean DecadeNZ Climate litigationMāui & Hector’s dolphins Orange roughy caseEC v SpainFrench Polynesia MPANew Zealand must protect the oceanNZ lags in protecting oceanVoluntary nature creditsWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of Law at the End of the World, we’re joined by interdisciplinary water researcher Dr Aurora Kagawa-Viviani, who shares her journey navigating the complex, and often joyful, terrain of collaborative, community-based research. Aurora speaks to the importance of building relationships across university and community settings, integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, and maintaining balance between academic life and personal wellbeing.Cristy and Liz discuss their own experiences in interdisciplinary legal research, sharing lessons learned from working across fields. The episode wraps up with hot takes on recent developments in environmental law.Show notes:Setting a pluralist agenda for water governance: Why power and scale matterGlobal water systems: attention on power dynamics and scale mismatchesFrontiers Planet Prize winnersAurora Kagawa-VivianiEA acknowledges issues with “offsetting”Scientist concerns over government interference with rock art reportAustralia's largest gas project, approved for extension to 2070Parents for Climate v EnergyAustralia‘Carbon neutral’ is deadAppeal rejected: the case of the Peruvian mountain guide Lliuya against RWEConsultation on RMA national directionEDS concerns over review of National Direction (RMA)Carbon removals strategy MfE Jacinda Ardern, 2025 Yale Class Day SpeakerBlue Carbon FuturesIf you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, or leave us a reviewWould you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of Law at the End of the World, we’re joined by Dr Birsha Ohdedar - legal scholar, climate justice advocate, and thinker on post-growth futures. Birsha shares his academic journey, insights on navigating the tensions between scholarly work and real-world impact, and reflections on law's role in climate and environmental justice. He speaks on the promise of post-growth frameworks, prefigurative legalities, and the importance of slowing down to reimagine what law can do.Reflecting on Birsha’s interview, hosts Cristy Clark and Elizabeth Macpherson explore the challenges of parenting within academia and make a case for slow scholarship in a high-pressure sector. The episode closes with updates on current developments in environmental law and future directions for research.Show notes:See below for a list of resources relevant to the themes or issues discussed during this episodeClarke, Cristy Prefiguring legal alternatives in environmental and climate justice struggles in AustraliaFor more on our guest Birsha Ohdedar's workEnvironment Minister Murray Watt heads west to restart 'Nature Positive' talks, with a decision on Woodside's gas project loomingCrisafulli government reneges on pre-election funding pledge by axing environmental legal aidLandmark Legal Victory for England’s Rivers: The Court of Appeal's Pickering Judgment - Environmental Law FoundationThe UK Rights of Nature networkSwimmable Cities Summit 2025 - Rotterdam Regulatory Standards Bill 155-1 (2025), Government Bill – New Zealand Legislation Indigenous Rights in One Minute : What You Need to Know to Talk Reconciliation – Harbour PublishingHigher Expectations – Between the Lines: How to Survive Academia, Make it Better for Others, and Transform the UniversityOne Ocean Science CongressAdaptation Futures Conference 2025Colombia recognises Indigenous RightsLSAANZ ConferenceThank you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, subscribing, and sharing, or leave us a review. Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode, Elizabeth and Cristy discuss the concept of 'pracademia' - the intersection of academic and practical legal work. Thie conversation begins with reflections from Liz's recent keynote address for early career researchers (ECRs) in Canterbury, titled How to survive (and thrive) as an academic. Topics include insights on surviving (and thriving) in academia, emphasising the role of 'shameless self-promotion' and embracing rejection as a ncessary part of acadmic life and of growth. Cristy adds her perspective with a candid confession of her obsession with productivity hacks featuring shoutouts to On the Reg and TextExpanderIn the second half of the episode, Liz and Cristy dive into recent developments in environmental law. Liz covers a slew of legislative changes in Aotearoa New Zealand, including a rushed amendment to the Wildlife Act - described as protecting vulnerable roads and mines from skinks, geckos and frogs,  as well as the Equal Pay Amendment Act. She also shares the exciting appointment of Gerard Albert (Whanganui Iwi) to the Waitangi Tribunal. Cristy discusses the Australian election results and highlights several climate cases progressing through international bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights and the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights. Links and further resources:What I wish I knew: 33 thoughts for early career researchersAmendment to Wildlife Act ‘unnecessary and muddled’Fighting nitrate pollution in Canterbury: MHVAnne Salmond: She won't be right, mateLaw change protects vulnerable roads and mines from skinks, geckos and frogsDairy dominates science panel as Govt milks research for profitStudents for Climate Solutions Incorporated v Minister of Energy and Resources [2024]The country is not prepared for climate impacts, say advisors​Campaigners take UK government's climate adaptation to ECHRRequest for an advisory opinion on human rights obligations of African statesImplementing KlimaseniorinnenPlease like, share or leave us a review!Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

SummaryIn this episode of Law at the End of the World, Elizabeth Macpherson  speaks with our guest Dr Ritodhi Chakraborty about his journey into academia. He shares highlights the  importance of the humanities and social sciences in contributing to the world's most pressing issues and that environmental sciences could benefit from expanding into alternative knowledges to ensure their work is grounded in diverse knowledge systems. He introduces the concept of maladaptation, critiques traditional environmentalism, and stresses the significance of Indigenous knowledge in climate solutions. The conversation also explores the ethics of research, the need for interdisciplinary approaches, and the importance of community engagement in achieving justice. The episode concludes with Cristy and Liz's reflections and updates on the recent developments in environmental law. Show notes:UBC Professors’ Attempt to Deny the Facts of Law and HistoryFor more on our guest Dr Ritodhi Chakraborty's work - click here Te Ture Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua 2025/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Act 2025 No 1 The United Nations General Assembly includes the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment: the ocean and human rightsMehta, L. The Challenges of Decolonising Sustainability and the Environment in Development Studies (DS). Eur J Dev Res (2025). Read the articleThe 2025 LSAANZ Conference: Rights, Relationality, Resilience, Reciprocity, University of Canterbury - call for abstracts - 2025 LSAANZ Conference | University of CanterburyRound table exploration of the issues surrounding climate change and class discrimination lawThank you for listening. If you found this episode valuable, we’d appreciate it if you liked, subscribed, shared it with others, or consider leaving us a review. Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy 

In this episode of Law at the End of the World we are joined by natural resources and climate law scholar Julia Dehm. Julia discusses the challenges of balancing theoretical research work with real-world research impact, the importance of mainstreaming climate change in legal education, and the juggle of balancing a career with family responsibilities. In addition to reflecting on Julia's talk, Cristy and Liz discuss recent developments in environmental law, and reflect on their future research directions and the need for collaboration within the legal community.Show notes See below for a list of resources relevant to the themes or issues discussed during this episodeMore information on our guest, Associate Proffessor Julia Dehm, can be found hereNaomi Klein and Astra Taylor, ‘The rise of end times fascism’ (The Guardian, 13 April 2025) Find more on the: Climate Conscious LawyersPetra Stock, ‘Coalition scores just 1/100 points for environment and climate policies from conservation organisation’ (The Guardian, 14 April 2025) - Read articleOHCHR Calls for Inputs - Submit or review current callsAlessandro Pelizzon, Ecological Jurisprudence: The Law of Nature and the Nature of Law (Springer, 2025) - find the article hereCristy Clark, Legal Geographies of Water: The Spaces, Places and Narratives of Human-Water Relations (Routledge, 2026) - Link to the articleUniversity of Leeds, Riverkin: remaking vital relations with rivers - Project infoBerkeley Law, Roundtable on Climate Change and Class Discrimination Law, Event detailsFrontiers Planet Prize national winners announced -  Royal Society Te ApārangiThe 2025 LSAANZ Conference: Rights, Relationality, Resilience, Reciprocity, University of Canterbury - Call for Abstracts Thank you for listening. Please consider subscribing, sharing or leave us a review.Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note hereVisit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. You can also find us on the following platforms:LinkedIn - Liz & CristyBluesky - Liz & CristyOur websites - Liz & Cristy