Research
Research at the Centre for Law and the Environment
'Law and the Environment Podcast鈥� Series
ThIS new series features interviews with UCC Centre for Law and the Environment faculty members, focusing on their work, upcoming events, ongoing research and projects being undertaken at the centre.
Episode One
In episode one of the series, our host, Dr Marie Aronsson-Storrier speaks to PhD Researcher, Niamh Guiry. Last year, Marie and Niamh both attended the COP 28 Global Summit in Expo City, Dubai, as part of 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork's Student, Academic and Researcher Delegation. Listen below for a short clip of the podcast, or click to listen in full.
Episode Two
In this episode, our host Dr Marie Aronsson-Storrier speaks to the Co-Director of the Centre for Law and the Environment, Professor Owen McIntyre. Owen speaks about his work in the Principle of Solidarity in International Law, which he explores through the lens of Water Law. Listen below for a short clip of the podcast, or click to listen in full.
Episode 3
Welcome to the UCC Law & the Environment Podcast Series! In this episode, our host Dr Marie Aronsson-Storrier speaks to Dr Dug Cubie. Dug speaks about his article Sea Levels Rise and Human Mobility. To find out more about the UCC Centre for Law and the Environment, visit our website: 鈦�鈦犫仩鈦犫仩Centre for Law and the Environment | 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork (ucc.ie)鈦�鈦�.
Listen on Spotify here:
Report to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission regarding Major Retailer Own Brand Tea Bags
A multidisciplinary team of researchers from the School of Law and the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science at 深夜亚洲福利久久 College Cork (UCC) has today submitted a Complaint to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) regarding major retailer own-brand teabags which are labelled as biodegradable but fail to perform accordingly.
The Complaint calls for urgent action from the consumer protection watchdog to investigate greenwashing by the retailer related to the teabags, but also against the systemic issue of misleading environmental claims by big retailers even though their products fail to meet any standard.
This kind of 鈥榞reenwashing鈥� 鈥� marketing products on the basis of sustainability credentials that are incorrect, exaggerated, not substantiated or simply irrelevant 鈥� has become rife in recent years. As such, the CCPC must take urgent action to address these kind of 鈥榞reenwashing鈥� claims by companies more systematically.
Report to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
Rhoda Jennings awarded for digital poster at INGSA2021
Rhoda Jennings created an academic digital poster for presentation at the 4th International Conference on Science Advice to Governments, INGSA2021. The conference was a 4-day interactive hybrid conference, with over 2,600 participants discussing issues of science advice and diplomacy.
Rhoda presented her research on the use of science in the precautionary principle and her poster was chosen for an award together with five other presenters from across the globe. The posters feature on the INGSA Horizon Series Special:
Rhoda鈥檚 PhD research is supervised by Professor Owen McIntyre and Professor Mark Poustie and is funded by an Irish Research Council / EPA postgraduate scholarship.
Centre for Law & the Environment Researchers Participate at EELF Annual Conference 2021
Rhoda Jennings and Alison Hardiman (PhD Candidates at the School of Law) and Professor 脕ine Ryall participated at the 8th European Environmental Law Forum (EELF) Annual Conference hosted online by Bournemouth 深夜亚洲福利久久 from 8-10 September 2021.
The conference theme was Social and Scientific Uncertainties in Environmental Law.
Rhoda Jennings presented on 鈥楽cientific Uncertainty for Legislative Action: The Science of the Precautionary Principle in the European Union鈥�. Alison Hardiman addressed 鈥楾he Role of Public Participation in the Project Authorisation Process for Renewable Energy Infrastructure鈥�.
脕ine Ryall鈥檚 contribution focussed on 鈥業nterrogating Judicial Review of Environmental Decision-making in Ireland鈥�, and she was also invited to participate in an expert Roundtable Discussion on the theme 鈥楽cientific Uncertainties in the Habitats Directive Regime before National Courts鈥� during the conference.
Read more about the Centre for Law and the Environment's participation at the EELF Annual Conference here: /en/lawenvironment/newsandevents/centre-for-law--the-environment-researchers-participate-at-eelf-annual-conference-2021.html
Teaching Environmental Law for Policy Innovation and Impact
During 2020/21, the Centre for Law & the Environment engaged in a research project on the theme Teaching Environmental Law for Policy Innovation and Impact.
Led by Professor 脕ine Ryall, this project aimed to design, develop and test a series of new models of experiential learning in the field of environmental law and policy. A key element of the project involved the development and testing of a new Digital Badge programme in Climate Law and Governance for Engaged Citizenship for first year undergraduate students.
The project was funded by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and the Higher Education Authority.
Professor Mark Poustie鈥檚 work on the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group
Professor Mark Poustie, Dean of the School of Law, chaired the Wildlife Crime Penalties Review Group in Scotland, set up by the Scottish Government to review the penalties that were at the time available to punish perpetrators of wildlife crime. The resulting recommendations made by the Group proved impactful, significantly influencing legislative change in Scotland, including the recent enactment of the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020.
The School of Law interviewed Professor Poustie about this work in 2021. You can read it here: /en/law/news/spotlighting-research---wildlife-crime-penalties-review-group-in-scotland.html
Selected Research Highlights 2020
Notwithstanding the many challenges placed on us by the COVID 19 pandemic, 2020 was a very successful year for the Centre. We continued to deliver high-impact, frontier research activity and collaborated with a wide range of external stakeholders.