Legal support matters

The international negotiations under the UNFCCC are amongst the most complex multilateral law and policy making processes ever. Meetings are characterised by the use of technical jargon, reference to legal principles and procedural norms. The delegations of industrialised countries therefore include specialised experts, lawyers and other support staff.

However, developing country negotiators, often representing those most affected by climate change, can rarely rely on similar backing. This impacts their ability to put forward their positions effectively, challenge opposing views, and shape the negotiation outcomes.

In order to create a more level playing field, LRI provides a range of services detailed in the leaflet below.

LRI history

In response, the LRI was set up in mid-2009 by lawyers from Oxfam GB and WWF-UK, and a number of practicing barristers and solicitors in London.  Since then, LRI has attended all sessions of the Conference of the Parties and meetings of the two subsidiary bodies.

LRI has won the Financial Times European Innovative Lawyer Award (category climate change and sustainable energy) and was the British Legal Awards Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative of the Year in 2010.

LRI became independent from its founding institutions in October 2010 and became a registered charity (registration no. 1147043) in April 2012.