The research focus area ‘Sustainability and law’ is open to researchers from Leiden Law School and Leiden University, to collaborate on issues of great societal urgency and to contribute, from our areas of expertise, to solutions for today’s pressing sustainability challenges.

Complex challenges

The transition to a sustainable society is one of the most urgent priorities in the coming decades. Climate change, sustainable food systems, the shift to sustainable energy systems, and sustainable business are just a few examples of the complex global challenges we currently face, issues that affect us all. Law plays a crucial role in all of these societal changes and challenges. These problems require an interdisciplinary approach. Within this research focus area, researchers at Leiden Law School study these topics from a range of perspectives.

More than just the environment and climate

Leiden Law School adopts a broad interpretation of the concept of sustainability. Sustainability is not only about the environment and climate, but also includes, for example, a healthy living environment, equality, and migration. Our research aligns with the three Ps of sustainable development, People, Planet & Prosperity, as used by the United Nations and the European Union. These Ps express the idea that people, the planet, and our well-being and prosperity must exist in harmony, with the aim of ending environmental depletion, poverty, and inequality.

Diverse focus areas

Within Leiden Law School, the three Ps of sustainable development are clearly reflected in our research. Our researchers investigate topics such as the regulation of environmental pollution, like nitrogen emissions and drug waste, unforeseen risks to people and the environment, the energy transition, criminal sanctions in the environmental domain, and corporate social responsibility. We also examine areas such as regulations on sustainable food and food security, fair governance and management of natural resources, the consequences of climate change such as migration, and the enforcement of fundamental rights, including labour rights in supply chains.

Cross-border and cross-disciplinary

Sustainability is not confined to a single field or discipline. A multi- and interdisciplinary approach is essential when studying the many facets of sustainability. That is why researchers with diverse areas of expertise, such as criminology, labour law, environmental law, corporate law, and European law, collaborate on these topics. They combine traditional legal research with empirical methods, such as data analysis and interviews.

Link to strategic plans

This research focus area aligns with Leiden University’s Strategic Plan (Innovating and Connecting 2022-2027), university-wide research initiatives, existing sustainability research within Leiden Law School, publications on the Leiden Law Blog, and the university theme ‘Sustainability and Biodiversity’ (under development).

Contact

If you have any questions, please send an email to: sustain@law.leidenuniv.nl

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