Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy

Welcome to CSDLP

The Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy focuses on environmental sustainability and achievement of sustainable development in all its dimensions: environmental, economic, and social.

The centre contributes to the teaching of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The UN Sustainable Development Goals serve as cross-cutting themes in our research projects, policy work and collaborative initiatives, including education and training, gender, health and wellbeing. We work on various projects, with countries and academic partners across the globe.

Meet the CSDLP Team

Sustainable Development Goals on a transparent background

Teaching and Learning

Students sitting on grass at Durham Maidan Castle

Our Projects

JusTN0W

JusTN0W is the flagship project of the CSDLP. It is developing a world-leading interdisciplinary work programme to research sustainable and just solutions for accelerated decarbonisation of economies, and to achieve lasting societal well-being for the present and future generations.

Learn more about JusTN0W

CSDLP at COPs

Each year, a team from CSDLP attends the Conference of the Parties (COP) under the UNFCCC accreditation. We will be at COP30 in Brazil and, among other activities, we will host an official UNFCCC side event. Explore further and learn more about our work at past COPS and our plans for this year.

Learn more about our engagment with COPs

Join our network

News

Katalin Sulyok – Lead Author in Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Dr Katalin Sulyok has been selected as Lead Author in Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during the IPCC's 7th Assessment Cycle running until 2029.

Global research
On the Science-Coloured Glasses of the ICJ: Harmfulness, Wrongfulness, and Climate Accountability

A blog contribution by Dr Katalin Sulyok to Völkerrechtsblog - International Law and International Legal Thought - reflecting on the recent Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice: 'Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change'. (Photo by Rafael Ishkhanyan on Unsplash.)

Research news
ELEVATE-ProClima (Enhance and Leverage the Architecture on Evidence for Proteção Climática (Climate Protection))

Colleagues from the JusTN0W team at Durham Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy secured funding from the British Academy under Evidence-informed Policymaking Grants 2025 Awards, for a timely and significant research project: ELEVATE-ProClima (Enhance and Leverage the Architecture on Evidence for Proteção Climática (Climate Protection)). The project is in collaboration with our valued Brazilian partners from the University of São Paulo, the State University of Rio de Janeiro.

Research news

Katalin Sulyok – Lead Author in Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Dr Katalin Sulyok has been selected as Lead Author in Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during the IPCC's 7th Assessment Cycle running until 2029.

Global research

Group of windmills for electric power production in the green field of wheat

On the Science-Coloured Glasses of the ICJ: Harmfulness, Wrongfulness, and Climate Accountability

A blog contribution by Dr Katalin Sulyok to Völkerrechtsblog - International Law and International Legal Thought - reflecting on the recent Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice: 'Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change'. (Photo by Rafael Ishkhanyan on Unsplash.)

Research news

ELEVATE-ProClima (Enhance and Leverage the Architecture on Evidence for Proteção Climática (Climate Protection))

Colleagues from the JusTN0W team at Durham Centre for Sustainable Development Law and Policy secured funding from the British Academy under Evidence-informed Policymaking Grants 2025 Awards, for a timely and significant research project: ELEVATE-ProClima (Enhance and Leverage the Architecture on Evidence for Proteção Climática (Climate Protection)). The project is in collaboration with our valued Brazilian partners from the University of São Paulo, the State University of Rio de Janeiro.

Research news