Climate Change Issues in Law, Business, and Society in Africa

Climate Change Issues in Law, Business, and Society in Africa

Climate change is one of the most pressing social, environmental, and economic challenges confronting the global community. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, while Africa has contributed negligibly to the changing climate, with just about two to three percent of global emissions, it stands out disproportionately as the most vulnerable region in the world. And while climate change is global, the poor are disproportionately vulnerable to its effects. This course explores the legal, political, and scientific challenges involved in adjusting to climate change and its impact on commerce, economies, political stability and the day-day-lives of individuals. It will also address legal, political and social issues in transitioning to the use of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels that generate the climate changing greenhouse gasses that trap heat in our atmosphere.

The course will exam international strategies and laws, including the Kyoto Protocol, emissions trading schemes, and efforts to involve the developing world in climate change mitigation. The course will also analyze climate change laws and policies from a comparative perspective, climate change litigation, and how companies may defend against litigation involving allegations of climate damage. As noted, issues related to the transition to renewable energy, including drafting relevant legislation and challenges in related contract drafting and negotiation, will be addressed.

Course Dates 

Week 1: April 22 - 26, 2024

Week 2: April 22 - May 3, 2024

Cost

1 Week:   $2,245

2 Weeks: $4,200

Additional Inclusions

• Course materials, including a resource booklet
• Lunch and refreshments provided daily
• Access to post-course online resources and alumni network

Location 

Online/in-person

Course Advisor

Guly Sabahi is Senior Advisor, Climate Finance, for the NDC Partnership Support Unit. Working across both the NDC Partnership's Country Engagement and Knowledge and Learning teams, Guly focuses on providing strategic advice and thought leadership to the climate finance efforts of the NDC Partnership to facilitate private sector investment for the implementation of the NDCs.

Guly has 20 years of experience advising private sector and public sector clients on energy and infrastructure projects internationally, particularly in emerging markets. Prior to joining the NDC Partnership, Guly was a senior executive in an international engineering firm, working on infrastructure and energy projects for governments in the Middle East and Africa. Previously, Guly practiced for 15 years at Big Law (including as a law firm partner), where she advised clients on equity and debt financing transactions and projects (including PPPs, JVs, M&A, PE fund formation) in energy and infrastructure sectors in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Guly has also led the capacity building programs for government officials at the International Law Institute (ILI) – to facilitate energy and infrastructure projects, particularly, in Africa. She has also served as Vice President and Director of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN), where she spearheaded the AIEN’s sustainability taskforce. Over the years, Guly has chaired, and presented at, a number of professional events – focusing on energy transition, PPPs and infrastructure finance, investments in emerging markets, and ESG.