National Environmental Law Association
| Type | Environmental organisations based in Australia |
|---|---|
Region served | Australia |
The National Environmental Law Association (‘NELA’) is a peak body for advancing Australian environmental law. NELA brings together professionals in environmental law, resources law and related disciplines.
History
NELA was founded in 1982 with Simon Molesworth as inaugural President. The association was founded after a national environmental law conference in Sydney in 1981 and following the Franklin Dam controversy. The then President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, Murray Wilcox QC, was a key supporter of NELA’s establishment.
In 1987–89 NELA operated as a federal body, including state and territory environmental law associations. In 1989, NELA became a national association with membership open to interested people from across the country.
Governance
Since 1989, the National Environmental Law Association Limited ACN 008 657 761 ABN 62 008 657 761 has been a public limited company by guarantee. NELA was incorporated under the then Companies Code, which later became the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).
NELA adopted its current constitution in 2014.[1]
NELA has five categories of membership: individual, corporate, life member, affiliate organisation, and student.[2] NELA engages members with events, advocacy and communications. [3] The board is accountable to its members through its annual general meetings and special general meetings.
NELA’s object, vision and values
NELA’s constitutional objective is ‘to promote the understanding of the role of environmental law in regulating and managing the conservation and usage of the environment.’ Under its Constitution, NELA can have state and territory divisions. NELA’s Western Australian division contributes law and policy reform submissions, communications support and organises NELA events that are delivered online and in person, in that state. The WA President or delegate also attends NELA’s monthly board meetings. It operates under strategic governance documents including a Board Charter, Strategic Plan and various other policies.[4]
NELA’s vision is to be:
- a multi-disciplinary peak body for advancing Australian environmental law and policy;
- an organisation that provides leadership, a strong voice, and a meeting place to discuss, consider and advance matters of environmental law for the legal profession, the policy community and the public; and
- an organisation that undertakes, facilitates and encourages research into environmental law to advocate for the advancement of environmental law, including by making recommendations and lodging submissions.
NELA advances the environmental rule of law including corporate sustainability. NELA’s values include enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion in environmental law and policy, including with Indigenous Australians.
NELA’s activities
NELA runs a national annual environmental law essay competition, holds public seminars, lectures and an annual conference about environmental law, and produces diverse publications about environmental law, together with other lawful activities incidental or conducive to achieving its objective.[5]
NELA produces law and policy reform submissions for national and state and territory inquiries.
NELA collaborates with international networks. It is a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the Professional Bodies Climate Action Charter[6]. Some NELA members volunteer with the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law[7]. NELA also works with universities, private firms and community legal centres to develop submissions and deliver events and other activities.
References
External links
- "NELA's website". National Environmental Law Association. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
This article "National Environmental Law Association" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:National Environmental Law Association. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
