ICJ Judge Bogdan Aurescu on
Climate Change, Sea-Level Rise, the ICJ and the ILC:
the purpose, the journey, the outcome
10 February 2026, 5pm - 6.30pm, WongPartnership LLP
Seminar Room, 12 Marina Boulevard Level 28, Marina Bay Financial Centre, Tower 3, Singapore 018982
INTRODUCTION This lecture presents the complexity of the activity of the International Law Commission (ILC) on the topic of ‘Sea-level rise in relation to international law’ from the perspective of Judge Aurescu as former Co-Chair (2019-2024) of the Study Group on this topic, which was included on the active agenda of the ILC in 2019 and was finalized in 2025. It also presents the main pronouncements of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on sea-level rise in its recent Advisory Opinion on the Obligation of States in respect of Climate Change (23 July 2025). The lecture focuses on the importance of the topic for the States affected directly and indirectly by this phenomenon, which is a negative consequence of climate change, on the purpose of the intensive work undertaken by the ILC, on the progress of the topic on its three subtopics (law of the sea, statehood and protection of persons affected by sea-level rise), and presents the outcome of the ILC efforts as well as the relevance of ICJ findings related to this topic.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER Dr. Bogdan Aurescu is the first Romanian Judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Prior to his swearing-in on 6 February 2024, he was a career diplomat (since 1996; with the rank of Ambassador since 2014), who served as Foreign Minister of Romania (2014-2915; 2019-2023) and as Foreign Policy Advisor to the President of Romania (2016-2019; 2023-2024).
He was member of the International Law Commission (ILC) for two mandates between 2017 and 2024, and Co-chair of the ILC Study Group on ‘Sea-level rise in relation to international law’ (2019-2024), as well as member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe (2002-2024). Professor of Public International Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest, having started his teaching activity in 1998, and editor-in-chief of the Romanian Journal of International Law. Between 2004 and 2009, Dr. Aurescu was his country's Agent before ICJ in the landmark ‘Maritime Delimitation in the Black Sea’ case, after being the Romania’s Agent before the European Court of Human Rights (2003-2004). He is the author, co-author or editor of 19 volumes in the field of International Law, 55 chapters in books and/or contributions to international conferences, and over 225 articles, studies, comments and book reviews.
DISCUSSANT
Ms Diane Tan was appointed Deputy Director-General (Security) of the International Affairs Division (IAD) of the Attorney-General’s Chambers of Singapore (AGC) with effect from 1 July 2022. As DDG (Security), Diane oversees International Criminal Law and International Legal Criminal Cooperation, Security Proliferation, Diplomatic Law, International Human Rights Law, International Environmental Law, the Law of the Sea, and Aviation workstreams in IAD. In 2021, she was appointed as Singapore’s Alternate Member to the Committee to facilitate implementation and promote compliance under the Paris Agreement (PAICC). She was re-appointed as Singapore’s Member of PAICC in 2023.
MODERATOR
Dr Nilufer Oral is Director of the Centre of International Law at the National University of Singapore. She is a member of the UN International Law Commission (ILC) and served as Co-chairperson of the 74th session w. She is also a Co-chair of the ILC Study Group on sea-level rise in relation to international law. In addition, she is a member The Hague Academy of International Law Curatorium and an associate member of the Institut de Droit International. She was a legal advisor and climate change negotiator for Turkish MFA (2009-2016). She is currently a Member of the Committee of Legal Experts of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS). She is a Distinguished Fellow of the Law of the Sea Institute at Berkeley Law and a Senior Fellow of the National University of Singapore Law School.
PROGRAMME
- 5 pm to 5.40 pm: Lecture
- 5.40 pm to 6.15 pm: Panel Discussion
- 6.15 pm to 6.30 pm: Q & A
- 6.30 pm: Networking Drinks
1.5 Public CPD Point
Practice Area: International Law
Training Category: General
Participants who wish to obtain CPD Points are reminded that they must comply strictly with the Attendance Policy set out in the CPD Guidelines. For this activity, this includes signing in on arrival and signing out at the conclusion of the activity in the manner required by the organiser, and not being absent from the entire activity for more than 15 minutes. Participants who do not comply with the Attendance Policy will not be able to obtain CPD Points for attending the activity. Please refer to http://www.sileCPDcentre.sg for more information.
REGISTRATION (Registration closes at 6pm, 6 Feb 2026, Singapore Time)
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