Meet Prof. Jonas Ebbesson

Prof. Ebbesson is the Director of Stockholm Environmental Law and Policy Centre, here at Stockholm University and former Dean of the Faculty of Law. He originally created our Master programme in Environmental Law and directed it between 2011 and 2014, and is now pleased to be able to offer it again starting in the autumn 2021.

Prof. Ebbesson (LL.D. Environmental Law) is the Director of Stockholm Environmental Law and Policy Centre, here at Stockholm University and former Dean of the Faculty of Law (2012-2017). He originally created our Master programme in Environmental Law and directed it between 2011 and 2014.

Prof. Ebbesson now wants to once again share his deep commitment and passion for environmental law with international students, with a new LLM focusing on the transboundary dimensions of environmental law, access to justice and human rights in environmental matters and on law and social-ecological resilience.

With a vast background in the area, he is currently the Chair of the Compliance Committee of the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (Aarhus Convention) and also has experience in environmental litigation.

We asked him a few questions about the LLM Environmental Law that will re-open in the autumn 2021.

 

What is your background and how did you end up in this particular field of law?

- I have taught international, EU and Swedish environmental law for more than 25 years and I have always been interested in social, societal and political matters. It was clear to me early on that I wanted to work with law for something that I thought was meaningful. For sure, there are many such areas, but one that became increasingly interesting to me was environmental law. It involves both issues on sustainability and justice. My research has essentially been focused on the transboundary dimensions of environmental law. I have written substantially about legal aspects on public interests, public participation, access to justice and human rights in environmental matters, but also on law in relation to and social-ecological resilience and planetary boundaries.

 

What are some of the characteristics of the EL LLM which make it particularly beneficial for international lawyers?

- First, the Master Programme in Environmental Law at Stockholm University centres on transboundary dimensions – and there are many such dimensions. These include international law, EU law and also transboundary application of national laws. Secondly, the programme provides in-depth studies in four transboundary themes which we think are of particular importance, namely the relation between environmental law and trade and corporate responsibility, climate and energy, human rights and social-ecological resilience.

 

How do you think LLM candidates can make the most of what is a relatively short programme?

- In previous years, I have seen how important it is that the students develop both individually and as a group during their studies. By sharing experiences and learning from each other throughout the year while studying, they can make the most of the courses, while also enjoying the social relations.

 

Speaking of social relations and activities: what do you think is the best thing with Stockholm University and with Stockholm as a city?

- Well, despite its relatively modest size, Stockholm is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city. I also appreciate the fact that the city is not only defined by the university. The university itself is equally vibrant and cosmopolitan, and has broad competence in environmental and sustainability research in human sciences, which includes law, as well as natural sciences.

 

From an admission point of view, any advice on one should go about when drafting their personal statement?

- I don’t think I should give any specific advice on this matter. Each applicant should define their own purpose rather than being influenced by me.

 

This is fair enough! Now if we look to the candidates who complete the programme; where do you see the alumni of EL work after graduation?

- We have seen students from our programme working in governments and public administrations, in non-governmental organisations, in academia, as counsels in law firms, and in the business sector.

 

Lastly, any advice for those looking to build a career in Environmental Law, either pre or post LLM?

- I don’t know how much it helps building a career, but I think that in the long run, one needs to feel that one works for a good cause and for something that matters for oneself; then it is for each one to define what that is.

Prof. Ebbesson has done precisely that. He found his calling within environmental law and focused on working with matters of importance, both for his own inspiration but also for the greater good. This includes a vast body of work within research on the responsibility of transnational corporations for harm to health and the environment, on justice aspects of environmental law, and on law and social-ecological resilience. He has also worked practically with environmental law, in international as well as national contexts. You can read more about Prof. Ebbesson’s work and research on his university profile.

If you too are interested in studying and working within this important area of law, an area that involves both issues on sustainability and justice, you can apply to be one of our new candidates for 2021. See SULaw's web page on the application process.

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