Legally Green is a project which aims to bring light to pressing environmental issues by encouraging student engagement with the topic of climate change. At our core, we are a group of law students with an interest in environmental law, sustainable practice, and climate activism. Anyone who shares these interests and demands climate action is more than welcome to get involved with Legally Green.
Our project forms part of the Green Bubble, a group comprising of staff and students representing all the sustainable societies on campus. Our collaborative efforts within the Green Bubble earned us a SU Activities award for ‘Best Student Group Collaboration’ as well as a spot as finalists in the 2022 Green Gown Awards under the “Student Engagement” category.
Since the project was founded in early 2021, Legally Green has accomplished a great deal. In the past year we organised a guest speaker event and collaborated with the Canal River Trust to organise a litter pick. The project also assisted the SU in conducting a comprehensive policy review of the University’s decision not to sign the COP26 declaration. The review was reflective of our commitment to ensuring that accountability and transparency remain key to sustainable decision making at University of Leicester. In an effort toincorporate environmental law principles into the school’s teaching, Legally Green put together an outline for curriculum reform.
Carrying on from the success of our first year, Legally Green plans to run further academic and social events in the upcoming academic year. We are currently working with faculty members and the Environmental Law Foundation to set up a student run policy clinic to assist local businesses and organisations in achieving their sustainability goals. With the support of the SU, we will continue to challenge the University and hold them accountable for any inaction and shortcomings in sustainability. Discussions with law school staff are ongoing with the aim of incorporating environmental law principles into the curriculum and exploring the possibility of creating an environmental law module for final year students.
If you have any questions about this project, please email Reda Hussain rh450@student.le.ac.uk
