Retired Prosecutor from the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais and coordinator of the Socioenvironmental Institute Saint-Hilaire of Mantiqueira, Bergson Cardoso Guimarães, gave a magnificent lecture this Tuesday, September 1st (Photo: Carolina de Paula/UFJF)
The Faculty of Law of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (UFJF) inaugurated this Tuesday, September 1st, the offer of the Climate Law discipline for undergraduate education. The magnificent lecture was given by the retired prosecutor from the Public Ministry of Minas Gerais and coordinator of the Socioenvironmental Institute Saint-Hilaire of Mantiqueira,Bergson Cardoso Guimarães.
"Climate change, in a way, is a product of nature, i.e., it is a natural phenomenon that has been occurring with the planet, but it also has a very strong human influence, from its industrial activities, production, and way of life. Therefore, a discipline like Climate Law, in a bachelor's degree program, is very important. For example, this week, we are dealing with the news coming from Nepal. Environmental problems directly affect vulnerable and low-income countries and people. That is why we call them socio-environmental problems. It is environmental, it is tragic, it involves many issues, but it affects those who have the fewest resources," said the guest professor.
Luciana Melquíades, director of the Faculty of Law at UFJF, highlights the importance of preparing students for the challenges related to climate change (Photo: Carolina de Paula/UFJF)
The need to add Climate Law to undergraduate education has become even more urgent at the Faculty of Law at UFJF, after the floods that affected Juiz de Fora and the surrounding area in February of this year.
"Professor Abdalla Curi, who initiated this, provoked these reflections on the need to bring Climate Law into the ordinary training of students, because the discipline already exists in postgraduate courses, we even have a lato sensu specialization in Climate Law, but not as a undergraduate discipline. And, especially, in light of the trauma experienced by the city, due to the floods, this discussion has become even more urgent for us. It is an important institutional response for us to work on the training of students to protect future generations," explained the director of the Faculty of Law. Luciana Melquíades.
Climate Law, Rights of Nature
Abdalla Curi,The professor, who developed and is responsible for the elective course on Climate Law, explains that he previously taught the course on Biodiversity Law at the undergraduate level, and students expressed interest in further developing their knowledge in this area.
Abdalla Curi, professor at the Faculty of Law at UFJF, is the creator and responsible for the elective course on Climate Law. (Photo: Carolina de Paula/UFJF)
“In the development of the Biodiversity Law course, I began to realize that students were interested in further exploring this aspect related to sustainability, climate issues, etc. In the last two years, Climate Law has developed so much that it has separated from Environmental Law and gained its own field. The uniqueness of this subject is that it involves climate law, rights of nature, and essentially becomes a law focused on preserving civilization,” Curi highlights.
All 60 available slots for this semester have been filled, one of which was by student João Vítor Mendes, from the 6th period. “We have seen the impact that the rains and climate change have had on the city. Having this course at the Faculty, which will teach us about the rights that the population and society have, and even about this climate change, is something very enriching for our learning, so that we can know how to act as future lawyers.”
Other information:Faculty of Law, UFJF