Durham Law School extends its warmest congratulations to Ambassador Rena Lee of Singapore on her election to the International Court of Justice.

Ambassador Lee chaired the successful intergovernmental negotiations leading in 2023 to the adoption of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) which applies to the high seas and the deep seabed. She shared her insights with a huge turnout of staff and students discussing the implementation of the Treaty, the background of how it was negotiated, and the particular challenges of legal interpretation and implementation that lie ahead more broadly in international law and global justice.

Ambassador Rena Lee also contributed to the Climate Change E-Academy, jointly delivered by the Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy, Durham University and the Centre for International Law (CIL), National University of Singapore. The programme brings together leading international experts to examine key legal and policy developments in climate change governance.

Drawing on decades of experience in international negotiations, Ambassador Rena Lee reflected on the growing recognition of oceans within global climate discussions and outlined emerging efforts to strengthen coordination between climate and ocean governance frameworks. Particular attention was given to the importance of cooperation, implementation and practical action in addressing the interconnected challenges facing our climate and oceans.

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