This lecture series, organised by Maastricht University, provides a set of important insights from environmental law scholars across Europe on how EU environmental law helps to achieve the aim of a high level of environmental protection in the European Union, including impacts of EU environmental law across the world.

With the European Green Deal from 11 December 2019 the European Commission tabled an ambitious legislative program, based on fundamental aims such as zero pollution, do no harm, and climate neutrality. Many legal developments took place and are still on-going, both at the European and national regulatory levels as in the courtroom, including the national courts. While efforts to protect the environment are direly needed, including effective implementation and enforcement, the regulatory acquis, and the flow of case law, has become utterly complex which poses challenges for acquiring a good understanding and application. Lectures will pay attention on how also after the elections for the European Parliament in June 2024 the environmental acquis of the EU and its application will develop.

The lecture series will start on Thursday, 19th September, with a lecture by An Cliquet. An Cliquet is a professor of international environmental and biodiversity law at Ghent University. Her research covers international and EU biodiversity law, with a focus on ecological restoration law, and topics such as climate change and biodiversity and protected areas law. She teaches several courses on international and European environmental and biodiversity law.

On the 31st of October, Dominic Coppens will give a lecture titled: The Global Plastic Treaty negotiations: The dynamic between the EU’s multilateral and internal green agenda.