Sustainability Law
The need for a deeper understanding of the role of law and legal systems in facilitating just and sustainable change is at the forefront of our mission. Our research group is dedicated to exploring how law and legal systems can effectively achieve ambitious sustainability goals while upholding the fundamental values and functions of law.
Exploring the Role of Law in the Sustainability Transformation
The European Union, joined by numerous regional and state players, is committed to ambitious sustainability objectives concerning climate change, biodiversity, and environmental health. While sustainability transformation research has tackled various policy, institutional, and legitimacy concerns associated with these goals, there remains a notable gap. A profound, institutional understanding of how law and legal systems can either facilitate or hinder a just transformation has yet to be fully explored and discussed.
Legal Pathways to Achieving Sustainability: The Research Agenda
To study the role of law and legal systems is in delivering ambitious yet just sustainability goals, the Sustainability Law Research Group concentrates on three pivotal sustainability goals: combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and achieving zero pollution. Our research spans a broad spectrum, including general theoretical, methodological, and constitutional questions integral to a just sustainable transformation. Beyond this, we delve into the application of law and legal systems across various social-ecological subsystems. These encompass energy, production and consumption, urban development, and water and marine ecosystems.
Research Group Directors
Seita Vesa
Research group lead, Professor of Environmental Law
UEF
Niko Soininen
Research group lead, Professor Environmental and Water Law
UEF
