Kenya National Conference & Africa Regional Summit
The Africa Regional Summit will take place over 2 days and will provide a forum for discussing corporate climate legal tactics across Africa. Additionally, the summit will also constitute the official launch and dissemination of the Kenyan National Report and provide an understanding of the research conducted in Kenya, as analysed in the Toolbox.
The summit provides an opportunity for an in-depth discussion on corporate climate legal tactics among legal practitioners, Judges, NGOs, corporate entities, climate scientists, and academics. The summit will host a judicial training session for African Judges on the most practical and compelling aspects of climate change litigation.
The event will be hosted by Dr Omondi Owino of Acorn Law, national rapporteur for Kenya. There will be 3 panels, covering the 3 research axes addressed in the Toolbox research: causes of action, procedures and evidence, and remedies. These will be moderated by Dr Ivano Alogna, BIICL Toolbox project leader, and Dr Uzuazo Etemire, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Port Harcourt, and Nigeria National Rapporteur, and Dr Owino.
Day 1 Thursday 20 June 2024
09:00-09:30 Opening and Welcome
Dr. Omondi Owino, BIICL Kenya National Rapporteur
Dr. Ivano Alogna, BIICL Research Leader in Environmental Law and Climate Change and Project Lead
09:30-10:00 Keynote Address: Justiciability in Climate Change Litigation
Hon. Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales (ONLINE)
10:00-11:30 High-Level Panel 1: Causes of Action in Corporate Climate Litigation
Dr. Tedd Moya, Oxford Martin Fellow, Oxford Martin Programme on Integrating Renewable Energy
Dr Edmond Odaba, Senior Program Officer - Environmental & Social Safeguards & Gender Mainstreaming, WWF
Mr Stephen Mallowah, Partner, Head of Climate Change & Sustainability, TripleOKLaw
Ms Faith Odhiambo, President of the Law Society of Kenya
Chair: Dr. Omondi Owino, Acorn Law Advocates LLP/JKUAT
12:00-13:30 High-Level Panel 2: Procedures and Evidence in Corporate Climate Litigation
Dr. Felix Odhiambo, Practising Advocate and Lecturer, Kenyatta University
Dr. Philip Omondi, Project manager, IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre
Mr Mark Odaga, Human Rights, Climate and Environmental Justice and Dispute Resolution Lawyer
Chair: Dr. Uzuazo Etemire, Associate Professor of Law, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria National Rapporteur
14:30-16:00 High-Level Panel 3: Remedies in Corporate Climate Litigation
Ms Clarice Wambua, Law Lecturer University of Nairobi/Partner, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer Inc
Dr. Lydia Omuko Jung, Senior Legal Consultant, Climate Focus Berlin
Dr Eghosa Ekhator, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Derby
Mr John Mwariri, Coordinator, Legal Aid & Education Department, Kituo cha Sheria
Chair: Dr. Ivano Alogna, BIICL Research Leader in Environmental Law and Climate Change and Project Lead
16:00 Close
Day 2 Friday 21 June 2024
09:30-10:00 Keynote Address: Access to Remedy for Corporate Harm in Africa: Prospects and Challenges of Climate Litigation
Prof. Damilola S. Olawuyi, Member from African States, UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, Professor and UNESCO Chairholder on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, College of Law, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
10:00-11:30 High-Level Panel 4: Reimagining Corporate Climate Litigation in Africa
Ms Iga Józefiak, Expert in Climate Science and Policy, Hydra Science Foundation
Ms Elizabeth Gitari-Mitaru, Managing Partner, OGO-LAW Advocates; Legal Counsel - Conservation and Carbon Rights Law, EarthAcre, Kenya
Ms Emmaqulate Kemunto, Environmental Justice and Rights Lawyer and Consultant Founder - Climate Change Lawyers Café
Chair: Dr. Omondi Owino, Acorn Law Advocates LLP/JKUAT
12:00-13:30 Online Workshop: The Role of NGOs in Corporate Climate Litigation in Africa
Mr Brandon Abdinor, Acting Programme Head - Pollution & Climate Change, Centre for Environmental Rights, South Africa
Mr Chima Williams, Principal, Chima Williams & Associates; Country Focal Person, Public Interest Lawyering Initiative for West Africa (PILIWA), Nigeria
Dr. Daniel Armel Owona Mbarga, Lawyer at Field Legality Advisory Group, Cameroon
Mr Michael Nyarko, Manager - Litigation and Implementation Unit, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Chair: Dr Eghosa Ekhator, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Derby, UK; Member, BIICL International Expert Group, Nigeria
13:30 Close
