About
Objectives
Melbourne Centre for Law and the Environment (formerly the Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law) strives to advance cutting-edge research, education, and active community engagement on legal, regulatory and policy frameworks that confront pressing local and global environmental and natural resources issues, while supporting climate action and the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples, affected communities, and the non-human world.
Collaboration
Undertake these activities through an open, collaborative and mutually supportive community of Centre researchers using diverse approaches.
Engagement
Strengthen existing links and establish new links with other research groupings engaged in related activities at the University of Melbourne, locally and globally.
Participation
Encourage community members and professionals from universities, non-profit organisations, government, business and cultural institutions, locally and globally, to participate in the Centre’s activities.
Our history
- 1986
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The Centre for Natural Resources Law was established at Melbourne Law School.
- 1986-1996
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The teaching program primarily focused upon laws relating to mining, petroleum and water resources; the legal structure and financing of major resources projects; and some aspects of environmental regulation.
- 1996
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Renamed the Centre for Resources, Energy and Environmental Law (CREEL) with substantial changes to research directions to extend the program to cover contemporary issues of national and international importance.
- 2024
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Renamed Melbourne Centre for Law and the Environment (MCLE).
In the 21st century, research themes have included production and distribution of energy – with a later strong emphasis on International climate change law and domestic energy transition; environmental impact of energy, resources and infrastructure projects; sustainable food systems and animal law, biodiversity protection, human rights - specifically Indigenous peoples’ rights over land and waters; water law and governance - with a groundwater specialty, offshore petroleum developments, environmental law and constitutionalism, and a growing body of research around ecological regulation, and environmental jurisprudence.
Associated bodies
MCLE has recently collaborated in its research with a diversity of organisations. Selected representative groups include:
- The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP);
- The Murray-Darling Basin Authority; and Melbourne Water
- The National Native Title Council; and peak Indigenous Water and Environmental organisations in Australia
- The Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL) of the International Bar Association
- The Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association Limited (Formerly AMPLA, now Energy and Resources Law Association)
- Laureate Program on Global Corporate Climate Accountability
MCLE also collaborates with community environmental law organisations such as Environmental Justice Australia and the Environmental Defenders’ Office and MCLE is a member of the IUCN environmental law section. MCLE has research partners in leading environmental and energy law centres in Universities across the USA, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom. It is building relationships with research centres in South Asia and South East Asia and in the Pacific region.
Melbourne Climate Futures
Melbourne Climate Futures (MCF) connects and amplifies the depth and breadth of University of Melbourne research, creates a portal to share ideas and collaborate on real action, and empowers the next generation of climate activists. We are committed to leading our national, regional and global communities to a sustainable, safe, fair and equitable climate future.
Annual reports
MCLE (formerly CREEL) Annual Reports provide details about the many achievements, events and research activities undertaken at the Research Centre.
