Law at the End of the World

In this episode, we explore the tension inherent in researching environmental law in the context of an increasingly politicised research context. We share Liz's inaugural professorial lecture from October 2024, and Cristy uses the opportunity to interview Liz about why she researchers water law. We discuss typical problems encountered in settler-colonial water law frameworks, and how innovative governance models, like that for the Whanganui River in Aotearoa New Zealand, suggest potentail other ways for governing human-water relationships. As always, Cristy and Liz explore recent developments in environmental law, water governance, climate change policies, and Indigenous rights, sharing insights and updates on key legal cases and policy reforms in Australia and beyond. Key hilights include a public law climate case in Aotearoa, a judicial review about engagement with First Nations about water allocation decisions in Australia, and a win for the case opposing oil and gas exploration off the coast of South Africa.
Video of Liz's Professorial Lecture
Why science must reinforce its social contract | Nature
on Science Communication. - by Peter Dearden - Snarked
Setting a pluralist agenda for water governance: Why power and scale matter 
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu - headstart
Iwi proposal would reshape councils around mountains and rivers
Michael John Smith v Attorney-General
High Court rules in favour of native title holders fighting Northern Territory water licence 
Court Awards $62 Million to Isabel Communities Over Unlawful Logging
Landmark judgment in South Africa permanently halts Shell’s Wild Coast oil and gas exploration

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In this episode, Cristy and Liz explore academic career planning with our very special guest, Professor Inger Mewburn (AKA The Thesis Whisperer), who talks to us about her own academic career, her current research, her work with PhD students and neurodivergent academics, and the under-rated skill of project management for researchers (the subject of her latest book). As usual, we also share recent developments in domestic and international environmental law, including climate change litigation, water rights, and heritage protection.
https://thesiswhisperer.com
Managing Your Research Project: A Guide for Researchers
Climate adaptation without funding is planning without delivery | EDS 
Under the Lens | Podcast on Spotify
NZ’s overhaul of nature protection laws is a chance to move away from ‘fortress conservation’
NZ's climate goals off-track - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre 
Hard Truths Case
Papunya Climate Safe Housing Case
Australian Conservation Foundation Inc; Friends of Australian Rock Art Inc v Minister for the Environment and Water & Anor

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In this episode, Mihnea Tănăsescu joins us to discuss his groundbreaking research on Ecocene Politics. Mihnea reflects on how we can conceptualise human relationships with nature, with particular attention to learning from place-based restoration projects and Indigenous legal systems. We critically explore how hope, despair, and lucidity can help or hinder our attempts to make sense of the ecological challenges communities are facing around the world. We also discuss the ways that legal and political theory scholars can draw on and connect to other academic disciplines, like ecology, and use fieldwork to ground their thinking in lived experiences and place.
As always, Cristy and Liz round off with their updates about environmental law developments, including further developments in Aotearoa's climate tort saga and the status of Aborignal cultural heritage reform and climate litigation in Australia.
Profile of Mihnea Tanasescu (UMONS) 
Ecocene Politics
Researching river personhood: Making the case for relational research methods
Law and the Environment: An Act of Legal Kintsugi?
Woodside case 
Australian position on fossil fuels and renewables
Western Australia and Aboriginal heritage 
Inequality lab global justice project

Complaint laid with Ombudsman about 'apparent withholding' of information by PM's office

Committee recommends disestablishing Environment Ministry despite public opposition
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Visit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. 
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In this episode, Associate Professor Erin O'Donnell (U Melbourne) joins us as a guest co-host to chat with us about the perils, pitfalls, and promise of researching in the burgeoning field of rights of nature. We discuss the top methodological challenges inherent in doing research about the rights of nature and legal personhood, and provide our thoughts about how to do this sort of work ethically and in a way that contributes to the scholarly field, the community, and nature itself.
As always, we round off with our updates about developments in environmental law including cases, legislation, and policy changes. Highlights include international pressure to implement the ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change, climate litigation in Australia, and fisheries and conservation reforms and government interference with climate litigation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
People, Place and Nature in Indigenous-Settler Relations
Doing research about relational water governance… relationally: Critical methodological reflections about legal research on river personhood
UN experts urge states to support General Assembly resolution operationalising 
ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate obligations
Climate Change in the High Court of Australia
Statutory Consultation open: Environmental Offsets Standard
River Thames in London gets first official bathing spot on Friday
3rd Global Citizenship Education Hub
Missed opportunities in the Fisheries Amendment Bill
The quiet but major shift slipped in among the conservation law reforms
New plans to encourage private investment in nature
Climate law changes have 'clearly struck a nerve'
Mercury NZ Ltd v Māori Land Court 2026-NZCA-91.pdf 
Ours Not Mines Limited v Hauraki District Council [2026] NZCA 138 
Recommendations-for-ethical-engagement-of-IKS-within-the-IPCC
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In this episode, Cristy interviews Liz about her Blue Carbon Futures research program. While it’s been claimed that blue carbon ecosystems can sequester up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, the legal frameworks needed to protect and restore them are fragmented, contested, and in many cases, underdeveloped. Liz unpacks how ownership disputes, traditional land law boundaries, and colonial legacies create hurdles for Indigenous communities trying to restore and finance these vital wetlands.
Priority questions for the next decade of blue carbon science
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Minister of Conservation 2026
High Court pauses Ngāi Tahu challenge to Conservation reforms
Smiler v Attorney-General [2026] NZHC 375
Our Freshwater 2026 Tō Tātou Wai Māori 
Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility v. Santos Ltd 
UniSuper referred to ASIC over alleged greenwashing
ACF adds new ground to North West Shelf case 
MACH Energy Australia v DAMSHEG & Anor
NT's McArthur River Mine
The Future of Freshwater 
3nd Global Citizenship Education Hub
Transforming food systems through human rights
Would you like to leave us a comment about our show? send us a note here
Visit our podcast website - where you can find more information, including the show notes. 
You can also find us on the following platforms:
LinkedIn - Liz & Cristy
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Our websites - Liz & Cristy