Aspiring climate justice leaders, legal practitioners, researchers, and students in South Africa now have an exciting opportunity to strengthen their expertise in climate litigation and environmental justice.

Applications are officially open for the Climate Litigation School 2026, a fully funded training programme jointly hosted by Natural Justice, the Centre for Environmental Rights, and the Centre for Environmental Justice in Africa at the University of Pretoria.

The intensive programme will take place from 6–10 July 2026 at the Future Africa Campus in South Africa and aims to equip participants with the legal, scientific, and advocacy tools needed to address the growing climate crisis through strategic litigation and community-centered approaches.

A Fully Funded Opportunity for Climate Justice Leaders

The Climate Litigation School is designed to bring together a diverse cohort of students, researchers, lawyers, environmental practitioners, and climate justice advocates to explore the critical role that law can play in advancing environmental and climate justice across Africa.

Successful participants will receive comprehensive funding covering:

Flights (where required)
Accommodation
Meals
Full participation in the programme
Wheelchair-accessible facilities and accommodation

The organizers aim to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent promising climate justice practitioners from accessing this unique learning opportunity.

About the Climate Litigation School

The programme seeks to build long-term capacity among individuals working to advance climate justice across South Africa and the broader African continent.

Participants will engage in intensive learning focused on:

Climate litigation strategies
Environmental governance
Climate science
Human rights and environmental law
Community advocacy and legal empowerment
Strategic litigation for environmental justice
Interdisciplinary collaboration

The School goes beyond traditional legal education by emphasizing practical, context-specific approaches that connect legal expertise with the realities faced by communities most affected by climate change and extractive industries.

Integrating Science, Indigenous Knowledge, and Law

One of the most distinctive aspects of the Climate Litigation School is its commitment to combining legal expertise with scientific evidence and Indigenous knowledge systems.

As climate litigation increasingly relies on:

Climate attribution science
Environmental data
Impact projections
Community-based evidence

the programme will create opportunities for collaboration between:

Scientists
Indigenous knowledge holders
Community leaders
Lawyers
Researchers
Environmental advocates

This interdisciplinary approach ensures that affected communities are not simply represented in legal proceedings but become active contributors to the design and implementation of climate justice strategies.

What Participants Can Expect

Throughout the five-day programme, participants will engage with leading experts working at the forefront of climate litigation and environmental justice.

Learning activities may include:

Interactive workshops
Case study analysis
Practical litigation exercises
Expert lectures
Peer learning sessions
Collaborative strategy development
Networking opportunities with climate justice practitioners

The programme draws on landmark climate litigation cases and rights-based legal frameworks to help participants understand how legal tools can be used to challenge environmental injustices and promote sustainable development.

Who Should Apply?

Applications are open to individuals based in South Africa who are studying or working in fields related to:

Law
Environmental science
Climate justice
Public policy
Human rights
Environmental governance
Community advocacy

The organizers are particularly interested in candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to applying the knowledge and skills gained through the programme within their communities, organizations, or professional work.

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be assessed based on:

Demonstrated interest or experience in climate, environmental, or human rights work
Potential to contribute meaningfully to the programme
Ability to benefit from the training opportunity
Commitment to advancing climate justice in their communities or professional practice
Contribution to diversity and inclusion, including racial and gender representation

The School aims to bring together a broad cross-section of participants to encourage rich dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Climate litigation has emerged as one of the most powerful tools for holding governments and corporations accountable for environmental harm and climate inaction. Across Africa, legal action is increasingly being used to protect communities, ecosystems, and future generations from the impacts of climate change.

By investing in legal education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community-centered advocacy, the Climate Litigation School seeks to cultivate a new generation of climate litigators and movement lawyers capable of advancing transformative environmental justice initiatives.

The programme ultimately aims to support legal actions that address systemic inequalities while promoting a more sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient future.

Programme Details at a Glance

Programme: Climate Litigation School 2026
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Venue: Future Africa Campus, University of Pretoria
Dates: 6–10 July 2026
Funding: Fully funded (flights, accommodation, and meals covered)
Eligibility: Individuals based in South Africa
Fields: Law, environmental science, public policy, climate justice, human rights, and related disciplines
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Application Status: Open now

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official application portal provided by the organizers. Early applications are encouraged as places are expected to be highly competitive.

APPLY HERE

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding