The 7th Conference of the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU)

The Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU)

7^th Scientific Conference

Theme:

Environmental Law in the Digital Age

February 9-10, 2026

Venue: Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

CALL FOR PAPERS

1. Background

The 7^th Scientific Conference of the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU) will be held on February 9-10, 2026, at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, with a view to exploring the role of technology and digitalization in the teaching, research, practice and implementation of environmental law and policy in the MENA region.

This conference will build upon the achievements of ASSELLMU’s first six conferences, respectively held in Doha (Qatar) in 2018, Settat (Morocco) in 2019; Doha (Qatar) in 2021, Amman (Jordan) in 2023; Sohar (Oman) in 2024; and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) in 2025. These conferences have been sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); SADER Legal Publishing; and with technical collaboration and partnership of the Rule of Law Programme Middle East and North Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung; and the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU).

The 2026 Conference aims to bring together educators, university instructors, trainers, and practitioners with expertise in environmental law and policy, as well as computer and data science, to exchange knowledge and share experiences. The goal is to foster learning and collaboration in strengthening environmental law education and practice in the region, with a particular focus on the role of innovative technologies and digital tools, including artificial intelligence, in advancing sustainable development across the MENA region.

The effective implementation of environmental law has crosscutting implications for a wide range of sectors, including health, water, energy, food, culture and tourism, clean technology, trade, financial green services or investment industry and sports amongst others. Given these interconnections and interdependencies, international law has increasingly emphasized the need for nexus and integrated approaches to the design and implementation of environmental law in a manner that promotes holistic and systems thinking. Goal 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 17) specifically underscores the need for enhanced partnerships – globally, regionally, nationally, and locally – as a required step for attaining all the SDGs.

With less than five years to the 2030 deadline for achieving the SDGs, it is imperative to examine challenges to leveraging innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence, for the teaching, research, and practice of environmental law in the MENA region. Understanding gaps, and exploring critical approaches for addressing these gaps, can help educators, businesses, policymakers, and other stakeholders to build a clearer path for systemic integration and reform of environmental education.

2. Themes

Panel discussions and workshops will explore current achievements and challenges in aligning the digital transition with sustainability goals, adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, and integrating both theoretical and practical insights. The program incorporates national, regional, comparative, and international legal aspects across five topics:

• Teaching and Practicing Environmental Law in the MENA Region in the face of the Digital Transition: how and whether digital tools, technologies, and online platforms are reshaping the way environmental law is being taught, learned, crafted and implemented. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: the integration of digital resources in legal education; the role of technology in environmental law, policy-making and enforcement; challenges in adapting traditional legal frameworks to digital realities; the digital divide’s implications on access to environmental justice; current capacity development gaps and the needs of environmental organizations and governmental       agencies      in the region, as well as strategies to bridge these gaps effectively.

• The Potential of Digital Technologies to Enhance the Integration of Environmental Considerations into Business Practices: whether and how digital technologies contribute to businesses’ environmental stewardship across a broad range of sectors, including agriculture, industry and finance. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: how businesses leverage digital tools—such as big data, AI, blockchain, and IoT—to assess, monitor, and minimize their environmental footprint; the role of digital technologies in environmental reporting, decision-making, and supply chain management; the extent to which digital technologies enhance compliance with regulations, promote transparency and accountability, and drive sustainability in corporate practices.

• Legal Pathways to Harness the Power of Digital Technology for Sustainability: whether and how the law contributes to steering digital technology’s development in ways that promote sustainability. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: environmental policies’ contribution to technological advancements; the role of digital technology in promoting environmental conservation and sustainable use; environmental policies’ ability to shape technological development in ways that realign human activities within planetary boundaries; regulatory promotion of low-tech solutions and traditional knowledge; risks that the digitalization of environmental policy-making exacerbates socio-economic inequalities; the environmental consequences of critical minerals mining and processing.

• The Regulation of Emerging Technological Risks: definition and regulation of technological risks related to the growing digitalization of environmental policies. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: methodologies to assess and streamline trade-offs between potential gains and risks of relying on digital technologies to achieve sustainability objectives ; values, tools and frameworks to define and respond to risks from digital technologies used for environmental purposes, drawing on insights from comparative law, local legal traditions, and religious or ethical principles; efforts to regulate risks associated with sustainability-driven digitalization through regional agreements, cooperation frameworks, and policy harmonization.

• The Legal Status and Regime of Environmental Data: conflicting narratives over the legal status and regime of environmental data. Areas of interest include but are not limited to the rules governing access to, utilization and disclosure of environmental data; competing claims to publicity and confidentiality of environmental data; promises and challenges of archiving the increasing flows of environmental data; interoperability of environmental data management schemes used by private and public institutions across the MENA region.

3. Papers 

We invite abstracts of papers exploring the conference themes that offer significant       academic contributions to environmental, digital, and technology law scholarship in the MENA region. Submissions may adopt a continental perspective or focus on sub-regional or country-specific case studies. Given the emerging nature of the topics covered, we also welcome contributions that, while not specifically focused on local contexts, offer valuable lessons for the development of environmental law in the MENA region. This includes contributions that provide theoretical insights on the twin (digital and environmental) transition or draw on experiences from other jurisdictions in ways that are relevant to the MENA region. While a rigorous methodology is expected, submissions may adopt diverse methodological approaches, including interdisciplinary investigations and empirical research.

4. Submission of abstracts and publication timetable

Abstracts of 500-700 words should include the following elements:

• Author’s Name
• Institutional Affiliation
• Contact Details
• Concise overview of the subject matter, including the key critical questions the paper will address.
• Outline of the research methodology employed in the paper.

Abstracts should be submitted, together with a copy of the author’s curriculum vitae, as e-mail attachments to the Chair of ASSELLMU, Dr. Damilola S. Olawuyi, SAN (dolawuyi@hbku.edu.qa).

The closing date for submission of abstracts is 15 July 2025.  Questions on this call for abstracts should be directed to  dolawuyi@hbku.edu.qa.

The selection panel will review submitted abstracts and notify only the selected authors on or before 15 September 2025. Upon acceptance, authors will be invited to submit full drafts of their papers before 15 December 2025. Revised versions will be presented for discussion at the ASSELLMU 7^th Scientific Conference, scheduled for 9-10 February 2026. Finalized and accepted papers will be published in a journal special issue or an edited book.

5. Submission Guidelines

Submissions must be original and must not have been previously published or submitted elsewhere.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their work does not infringe upon any intellectual property rights.

6. Funding

There is limited fund available to cover travel and accommodation costs. Please indicate in your submission whether you would require funding to attend the conference, specifying your place of departure.