ABOUT

Right Here, Right Now Law (RHRN Law) - established in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (United Nations Human Rights) and the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme, a joint initiative of the School of Geography and the Environment and the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford, and the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, is to advance climate justice through a human rights–based approach. Recognizing that the climate crisis is, at its core, a human rights crisis, RHRN Law collaborates with leading legal institutions and practitioners worldwide to develop transformative legal strategies that protect those most affected - including marginalized communities, women, children, and Indigenous peoples - ensuring that the law serves as a force for accountability, equity, and enduring justice for both people and the planet.

RHRN Law aims to unite the world’s top legal scholars, practitioners, researchers, and change agents to challenge the systems perpetuating climate destruction, fostering urgent and lasting solutions for a sustainable and equitable future. The initiative supports efforts to defend the rights of those most affected by climate change, ensuring access to justice, effective remedies, and accountability from governments and corporations. Through advocacy, research, and storytelling, the voices of affected communities will be elevated and empowered.

The 2025 Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit featured:

Legal Interests in a World of Climate Change

Convened by All Souls College, University of Oxford, this landmark conference brought together preeminent voices from law, science, and politics to examine the evolving role of legal systems amid the climate crisis. From sessions on international law and intergenerational justice to science communication and the convergence of domestic and global legal frameworks, the day offered a candid yet solution-driven dialogue on how strategic litigation, principled policy, and scientific integrity can catalyze equitable climate action. A culminating fireside conversation with an international judge captured both the gravity and necessity of delivering justice in a rapidly warming world.

The Legally Disruptive Nature of Climate Change

Hosted jointly by the University of Cape Town  and the Oxford Sustainable Law Programme,  this panel explored the disruptive impact of climate change on legal systems—and the vital role universities must play in response. As climate-related disputes grow and traditional legal doctrines are tested, scholars and practitioners examined how academic institutions can bridge the expertise gap through legal education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global research. With a focus on innovation, capacity-building, and comparative insight, the discussion illuminated how universities can help reshape the law to meet the defining challenge of our time.