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The Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU), and Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi (SUAD) warmly welcome you to the 7th MENA Environmental Law and Policy Scholars Conference. This year's theme is Environmental Law in a Digital Age.

The Conference is sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme; United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); ICELIS Global, and with technical collaboration and partnership of the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.

This conference builds upon the achievements from the first six conferences held in Doha (Qatar) in November 2018, Settat (Morocco) in November 2019; Doha (Qatar) in November 2021; Aman (Jordan) 2023, Sohar, Oman in 2024; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2025.

The goal of this year’s conference is 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 aim 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. A key focus will be placed on the concept of the “twin transition,” which explores the possibility of addressing the ecological crisis while simultaneously advancing the spread of digital infrastructures across society.

The "twin transition" has emerged as a new policy buzzword, suggesting that it is possible to address the ecological crisis while simultaneously advancing the spread of digital infrastructures (including Artificial Intelligence or “AI”) across society. The European Commission, for instance, asserts: “Europe's digital transition goes hand in hand with the European Green Deal. During the Digital Decade, Europe faces two important challenges: the green transition and the digital transition. These might seem like two distinct issues, but really, they are twin challenges: neither can succeed without the other. And, they are both equally important for Europe's future.”

Policymakers increasingly appear convinced that a single set of policies can serve both transitions, promoting the idea of their "convergence." This narrative—also gaining traction in the United Arab Emirates (see e.g., The General Framework for Adopting Sustainable Digital Transformation of 2024) —raises important questions that are beginning to attract scholarly attention. Yet, existing literature remains highly fragmented along both national and disciplinary lines, falling short of addressing a topic that inherently demands transnational and interdisciplinary perspectives. Insights from environmental, digital and business law, together with contributions from computer science, the natural and social sciences, and policy studies, are all essential to fully grasp the scope of this transformation.

The next ASSELLMU conference will bring together academics and practitioners to share research questions, hypotheses, best practices, and pedagogical insights that shed light on the theory and practice of environmental law in the digital age. Topics to be covered will include:

- 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.

- 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.

- 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.

- The Regulation of Emerging Technological Risks: definition and regulation of technological risks related to the growing digitalization of environmental policies.

- The Legal Status and Regime of Environmental Data: conflicting narratives over the legal status and regime of environmental data.

This event is in English.

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