Lawyers help small island nations to negotiate with giants on climate change

Lawyers get a bad press. They are often portrayed as ambulance chasers that thrive on the misfortune of others. So you might be surprised to learn that lawyers are helping to tackle climate change and protect biodiversity by enabling some of the world's poorest nations to stand toe-to-toe with the global powerhouses in international negotiations.

Meet FIELD, the Foundation for International Environmental Law and Development, whose lawyers will be in Paris this week for a meeting of the UN Convention for Biological Diversity.

"One of the main aims of the conference is to break new ground on the often misunderstood links between biodiversity and climate change," says FIELD staff lawyer, Linda Siegele.

Some of the 21st century's pressing issues are on the agenda:

• How to promote climate-friendly biofuel production without harming biodiversity or people.
• How to use land to both generate income and protect wild species.
• How to measure progress towards an internationally agreed goal of stemming the loss of biodiversity by 2010.
• And how to ensure that three major UN conventions can do more mutually supportive work to address global warming.

FIELD lawyer Linda Siegele advising the Micronesian delegate Alissa Takesi

FIELD's lawyers have summarised these and other agenda items in a comprehensive briefing document for government delegates from Pacific Island countries. During the negotiations in Paris they will providefurther hands-on assistance and advise delegates on procedural matters as well as principle questions of international law and policy.

Ana Tiraa, the Island Biodiversity Officer at the Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, says of the FIELD briefing: "FIELD has done a marvellous job in providing a useful synthesis of documents. Thank you so much for an excellent job."

FIELD was set up to enable the world's disadvantaged countries and communities to use international law to obtain environmental justice. By supporting Pacific Island delegates at the upcoming CBD conference in Paris, FIELD aims to level the playing field for those countries most vulnerable to environmental degradation.

"Developing countries and small-island developing states are at a disadvantage as they tend to lack the skills and experience needed to navigate the increasingly complex world of negotiations," says Linda Siegele. "Yet it is essential that their voices are heard as these nations are among the most vulnerable to rising sea levels and other effects of climate change."

In addition to biodiversity and marine resources, and climate change and energy, FIELD works on legal aspects of trade, investment and sustainable development. Its work provides research, capacity building, publications, advice and advocacy.

"FIELD's aim is to promote a fair, effective and accessible system of international law that protects the global environment and promotes sustainable development," says FIELD's acting director, M.J. Mace.

To interview FIELD staff, please contact:

Linda Siegele, staff lawyer, linda.siegele@field.org.uk

To find out more about FIELD, please visit http://www.field.org.uk