On 4 November 2016, the Paris Agreement entered into force. Hailed by many around the world as ‘historic’, the Paris Agreement is intended to strengthen the global response to climate change. However, as Prime Minister Trudeau noted in a Statement issued following the conclusion of the Paris climate conference, “[t]here is much tough work that still needs to be accomplished both at home and around the world to implement the agreement.” But what commitments have the Parties to the Paris Agreement made? What do these commitments mean here at home in Canada and in Alberta? In this presentation, Sharon will discuss these and other questions to help provide you with an understanding of legal framework developing around the issue of climate change.

Dr Mascher is a Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Calgary. Her research and teaching focuses on intersections between environmental law, energy law and the law affecting aboriginal people. For the last several years, her research has had a particular emphasis on the legal and policy framework relating to climate change.