Shows
Legal Frontiers from PKU STLClimate Change, Sustainable Development & Cleantech: A Pathway for Developing CountriesThis episode features a discussion on the book ‘Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Cleantech: A Pathway for Developing Countries’. The speakers are the book’s author, STL Associate Professor Joy Xiang, Rob Merges, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professor of Law at UC Berkeley & Co-Founder, Berkeley Center for Law & Technology, Richard Wilder, General Counsel for the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) & STL Associate Professor Stephen Minas. The panellists discuss the state of cleantech transfer & capacity-building for developing countries, innovation, the role of IP law and the experience of similar issues in the pandemic context. We gratefully acknowledge the Berkeley Center for La...
2021-12-201h 30Legal Frontiers from PKU STLThe German Law Journal & the future of transnational law publishingIn this episode, Professor Emanuel V. Towfigh and Dr Stephen Minas discuss the German Law Journal (GLJ) as a window into transnational legal scholarship and publishing, including issues of democratising access to legal scholarship, open access, and data security of online publications. Emanuel V. Towfigh is Distinguished Scholar in Residence at STL, Chair in Public Law, Empirical Legal Research and Law & Economics at EBS Law School & Co-Editor in Chief of the GLJ.
2021-10-2932 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLRegulatory Challenges of Renewable Energy Integration in ChinaTo meet the policy agenda of establishing an environmentally and climate-friendly energy system, several supporting mechanisms have been introduced under China’s Renewable Energy Law. A key feature of these mechanisms has been increased regulation and enforcement to ensure priority access of renewable energy to the grid, in pursuit of the goals to increase renewable share to 25% by 2030 and attain carbon neutrality by 2060. However, usage of electricity generated from renewables in China has been significantly curtailed, as such electricity is not adequately dispatched by grid operators. To address this, the electricity sector authorities have implemented several regulatory measures to facilitate re...
2021-09-0252 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLCOVID-19 vaccines and national and COVAX no-fault compensation programmesIn this episode, Professor Duncan Fairgrieve and Dr Stephen Minas discuss the global challenge of COVID-19 vaccination, the importance of public confidence in vaccines and the relationship between vaccine take-up and no-fault compensation schemes which assist the small minority of people who suffer serious adverse effects. Compensation schemes have been introduced in various countries and also under the international COVAX Facility, offering alternatives to litigation. Dr Fairgrieve is Professor of Comparative Law at Université Paris-Dauphine and Senior Research Fellow in Comparative Law and Director of the Product Liability Forum at the British Institute of International & Comparative Law (BIICL).
2021-08-0540 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLExploring the Interlinkages Between Climate Change and Agriculture and Legal and Policy ImplicationsAgriculture, forestry and land use are responsible for approximately 23% of global GHG emissions that contribute to climate change, representing a bigger share than other important sectors such as transportation. At the same time, agriculture is one of the sectors already more affected by changing climatic conditions. Agriculture has been included in international instruments and negotiations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, but the translation of international targets to national policies and action is not without its challenges. This webinar explores interlinkages between agriculture and climate change, providing an overview of how international and national laws play a role in...
2021-07-0750 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLBiodiversity 2050: The Convention on Biological Diversity & a world living in harmony with natureThe Convention on Biological Diversity’s ‘2050 Vision’ aims to achieve a world that is ‘living in harmony with nature.' Yet biodiversity is threatened globally to an extent never before witnessed in human history. Today, we sit on the brink of the possible realization of a significant shift in the operation of the convention: the projected conclusion of the CBD’s post-2020 framework when parties meet in Kunming, China for the 15th Conference of the Parties. Can this process move the CBD from an instrument of aspiration to one of action? Dr Michelle Lim is Senior Lecturer, Macquarie Law School and was a...
2021-04-1258 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLChina’s digital currencyIn this episode, Dr Oriol Caudevilla discusses central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), how they are different to cryptocurrencies, the development of China’s digital yuan and its implications. Last April, the Chinese Government announced the starting of the tests of the country’s CBDC, DCEP (Digital Currency Electronic Payment) or Digital Yuan, in four major cities. In August, the Ministry of Commerce announced that a pilot run of the country’s CBDC would begin in several new areas, the Greater Bay Area among them, which includes Hong Kong and Macau. According to the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) in early 2020, 80% of Cen...
2021-03-191h 03Legal Frontiers from PKU STLThe AIIB, multilateral development banks & the law of international organizationsIn the 1st episode of 2021, Peter Quayle and Stephen Minas discuss the establishment & early years of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the practice of institutional law at MDBs and other international organizations, & the role of international administrative tribunals. Peter Quayle is a Visiting Fellow at the Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, University of Cambridge & Visiting Professor of International Organizations Law at Peking University Law School. Previously, he was Chief Counsel & established the corporate law function at the AIIB. His current academic research focuses on the employment law of the international civil service.
2021-03-0442 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLRegime Divergence or Convergence? Law of the Sea and Climate ChangeIn the 2nd session of the STL Law & Sustainability Colloquium, Dr Nilüfer Oral discussed the existing frameworks in relation to protection of the marine environment under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and climate change under the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) regime. The discussion identified the gaps within each regime, the gaps between the two regimes and how synergies may be developed to address the important climate risks to the health of the ocean. Dr Oral is Director of the Centre of International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore and i...
2020-12-171h 21Legal Frontiers from PKU STLThe BRICS, BRICS law, & law in the time of oxymoraIn this episode, Professor Rostam J. Neuwirth & Dr Stephen Minas discuss the ‘cooperation & dialogue platform’ of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) & legal developments in BRICS cooperation, such as the creation of the New Development Bank, as well as Prof. Neuwirth’s concept of ‘legal oxymora’. Rostam Neuwirth is the Head of the Department of Global Legal Studies at the University of Macau.
2020-12-0736 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLInternational climate change law and negotiations in times of COVID-19In the 1st STL Law & Sustainability Colloquium session, Christoph Schwarte reflected on how the pandemic may affect the international body of law related to climate change, and provided an overview on the specific challenges for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Christoph is executive director of Legal Response International (LRI) - a London based charity that provides free legal support to developing countries and civil society observer organisations in connection with the international climate change negotiations. The webinar was recorded on November 4th.
2020-11-0654 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLLegal services disrupted: Technology & innovationTechnology and changing business models are disrupting the legal profession, legal services and law schools. In this episode, Ray Campbell and Stephen Minas discuss the possibilities as well as limitations of LawTech and LegalTech innovations in the legal profession, such as online dispute resolution and the use of artificial intelligence in courts; regulatory change to encourage innovation; and the future of law schools. Professor Campbell is a scholar of civil procedure and professional responsibility at STL. His research concentrates on the intersection of law and commerce, with a special focus on the changing nature of the legal services marketplace in...
2020-10-1334 minLegal Frontiers from PKU STLRefugee law, asylum justice and closed bordersIn this episode, Liu Yue and Stephen Minas discuss refugee law and the process of seeking asylum in both developed and developing countries. Yue shares his experience working with refugees and asylum seekers in Bangkok, Thailand. The discussion also explores recent asylum cases concerning the US southern border, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for refugees and asylum seekers and UNHCR reactions. Liu Yue is a C.V. Starr lecturer at STL and was a Volunteer Legal Advocate for urban refugees with Asylum Access Thailand in Bangkok prior to joining STL. He holds a a J.D. from University of...
2020-08-0341 min
Legal Frontiers from PKU STLInternational cleantech cooperation: Climate change, WIPO Green & the Paris AgreementIn this episode, Joy Xiang and Stephen Minas discuss intellectual property rights management for clean technologies, innovation in developed & developing countries, international cleantech cooperation under trade & climate change law, & the role of cleantech in building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic. They also discuss Professor Xiang’s proposals for strengthening cleantech cooperation. Joy Xiang is assistant professor at STL & a 2019/20 fellow at the Asian Law Institute, National University of Singapore.
2020-06-0543 min
Legal Frontiers from PKU STLChina’s Supreme People’s Court in 2020In this episode, Susan Finder and Stephen Minas discuss China’s highest court, the Supreme People’s Court (SPC), and key SPC developments in 2020: The SPC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, various aspects of judicial modernization, the China International Commercial Court within the SPC, and the SPC’s “Opinion on providing services and guarantees for the Belt & Road”. Susan Finder is Distinguished Scholar in Residence at STL and author of the Supreme People’s Court Monitor blog.
2020-05-2132 min
Legal Frontiers from PKU STL1. connectivity & decouplingIn this episode, Mark Feldman and Stephen Minas discuss the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on transnational arbitration, as well as broader developments in transnational dispute resolution (including arbitration, mediation and international commercial courts) at a time of both the claimed economic ‘decoupling' between the United States and China and the promotion of ‘connectivity’ agendas such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
2020-04-2932 min