Pacific Centre for Environmental Law and Litigation

12/16/2023

Youth Climate Win - At this "all hands on deck moment” in the climate emergency comes a timely Federal Court of Appeal decision that allows the youth-led climate case La Rose v Canada to go to trial. CELL Executive Director Chris Tollefson breaks down the decision on CBC On the Coast with Gloria Macarenko.
https://www.pacificcell.ca/chris-cbc-interview/

Federal Court of Appeal allows youth-led climate case to go to trial. Chris Tollefson breaks it down on CBC On the Coast with Gloria Macarenko.

03/11/2023

Opinion: Last month, 15 children and youth asked judges to hear their claim to a constitutional right to a livable climate. Ottawa wants to stop the case before the courts can even hear their argument.

02/18/2023

15 Canadian youths concluded a 2-day hearing in Federal Court of Appeal arguing that their should proceed to trial. "This case is ripe for trial b/c we are in a climate emergency," says Chris Tollefson, co-counsel for the youth

Environment Court hears appeal in Canadian youth climate lawsuit The case requests a court order declaring the government’s conduct as unconstitutional and mandating the government implement a science-based climate recovery plan to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions according to its fair s...

02/18/2023

15 Canadian youths concluded a 2-day hearing in Federal Court of Appeal, arguing that their should proceed to trial. "We deserve to be heard", says Raine Robinson, who was 17 when the lawsuit started.

The Ministry of Environment says Canada’s position is that this is not an issue that will be resolved in court, but the youth disagrees.

02/14/2023

The applicants involved in the Mathur et. al. case express their solidarity with other youth and Indigenous climate activists.

01/18/2023

Listen now to our executive director Chris Tollefson, who talks about CELL, legal education, and public interest environmental litigation in this insightful interview with McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law Senior Editor Victoria Flaherty. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZTuzHuyxBoOUQw2vTrudW?si=d30e291eddc7439c&nd=1

Listen to this episode from Sustainability Spotlights on Spotify. Senior Editor Victoria Flaherty interviews Chris Tollefson on his career in environmental law and litigation. Chris is a professor and lawyer who has an impressive record of public interest counseling, nonprofit work, and teaching at...

01/02/2023

Join law students from across Canada in CELL’s public interest environmental litigation program. Applications to enroll into CELL's 2023 Spring (Jan.-Mar.) cohort is open, and the deadline to apply has been extended to January 6! Visit the following url for more information about the program and download the application form:

Enrolment into CELL's 2023 Spring Cohort is now open for applications! Join law students from across Canada in CELL’s public interest environmental litigation program.

08/31/2022

In Todsen v. Morse, 2022 BCSC 1341, the British Columbia Supreme Court has affirmed that the Protection of Public Participation Act (PPPA) affords robust protection for citizens advocating for environmental conservation. Passed unanimously by the BC Legislature in 2019, this case was the first time the PPPA had been invoked in this context. CELL is an education partner in this case. Read more in our latest news here:

The BCSC has affirmed that the Protection of Public Participation Act affords robust protection for citizens advocating for environmental conservation.

05/31/2022

This summer marks the completion of six years that CELL has provided experiential learning opportunities for law students across Canada in its mission to mentor and train the next generation of public interest environmental litigators. Celebrate with us in this special edition of the CELL newsletter as we look back at 6 years of education excellence.

Celebrate with us in this special edition of the CELL newsletter, "Climbing Higher", as we look back at 6 years of education excellence.

12/04/2021

CELL congratulates the appointment of Maegen Giltrow as one of 30 recipients of the honorary title of Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) for 2021.

CELL congratulates the appointment of Maegen Giltrow as one of 30 recipients of the honorary title of Queen's Counsel (Q.C.) for 2021.

10/13/2021

“We need to revisit our ideas about justiciability in a climate emergency,” says Chris Tollefson, Executive Director of CELL. “It’s not appropriate for the courts to step aside on the basis that it’s too political or too complicated.”

Lawyer Chris Tollefson says civil disobedience is a ‘symptom of democratic failure’ and in long-fought environmental battles ‘victory comes in a lot of different forms’

09/30/2021

CELL congratulates alum Larissa Parker for winning CBA student awards for her essay on law of justiciability and climate litigation:

CELL alum Larissa Parker wins CBA student awards for essay on law of justiciability and climate litigation.