Environmental Governance in Turbulent Times: Ten Years on from Brexit

Organised by the UCL Centre for Law and Environment and the Green Alliance Legislation and Governance Unit

About the Event:

The performance and potential of the UK’s new environmental law and governance architectures raise important questions for political and legal accountability, especially in times of political turbulence.

Legislatures around the UK put in place distinctive legal frameworks for environmental governance in the aftermath of Brexit. These hard-won systems include bodies to scrutinise the environmental law performance of government – and 2026 also marks the fifth anniversary of the Office for Environmental Protection and Environmental Standards Scotland – and statutory frameworks for environmental planning, target-setting and monitoring, as well as legal footholds for the environmental principles after Brexit.

This is the fourth event in a highly successful series of public discussions on the major changes to UK environmental law since Brexit, bringing together academics, practitioners, government, students and civil society.

Speakers:

Prof. Ruth Chambers, Green Allience

Prof. Maria Lee, UCL Laws

Prof. Richard Macrory CBE (Hon) KC, UCL Laws

Elen Stokes, University of Bristol

David Wolfe KC, Matrix Chambers

More speakers to be announced

Chairs:

Prof. Eloise Scotford, Dean UCL Laws

Estelle Dehon KC, Cornerstone Barristers

UCL200

UCL200 marks the bicentenary of University College London — 200 years since our founding in 1826 and our legacy of pioneering education, research, and community.

Throughout 2026, UCL will host a vibrant programme of events and activities celebrating our founding values, our global impact, our communities, and our vision for the future. Visit the UCL200 website to explore the full programme and learn how you can get involved.

To see how UCL Laws is contributing to this landmark year — with events, stories, and initiatives highlighting two centuries of legal scholarship and impact — visit the UCL Laws UCL200 page.

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Photo by Bozhin Karaivanov on Unsplash