Fostering Justice and Sustainability for People, Animals, and Ecosystems
The Socio-Ecological Justice (SEJ) Lab, in partnership with the University of Cape Town’s African Climate Development Initiative, and award-winning law firm, Lawtons Africa, aims to transform legal and governance systems to address the global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Through interdisciplinary research, advocacy, and litigation, the SEJ Lab seeks to advance socio-ecological justice by fostering systems that enable human, animal, and ecosystem flourishing.
Impact
Our work addresses the triple planetary crisis through:
Advancing Knowledge
Increasing understanding of how laws drive or can be responsive to socio-ecological injustices and climate risks through interdisciplinary research.
Building a Pipeline of Experts
Capacitating postgraduate researchers to lead intersectional justice research and advocacy in the Global South.
Policy and Litigation Outcomes
Promoting stronger legislation and litigation strategies to address inequities and combat climate risks.
The Constitutional Court has recognised our environmental rights work.
Our Approach
Our vision is a world in which all people, animals, and ecosystems can flourish. Our mission is to pursue intersectional justice research, advocacy, and litigation with academics, practitioners, and vulnerable groups to co-produce legal solutions, fostering systems and institutions that promote sustainability and protect all life on Earth.
To achieve this, we engage in the following:
Innovative Research
Undertaking inter- and multidisciplinary research to generate new knowledge on the law as a mechanism for intersectional justice, equality, and freedom. Our work includes collaborative research with ASCEND on gaps in environmental impact assessment laws and policies in Southern Africa, to foster greater recognition of rural communities.
Advocacy & Litigation
Empowering communities and organizations to utilize the law to advance intersectional justice and combat risks amidst the planetary crisis. This includes partnering with non-profit organizations on legal interventions, such as a friend-of-the-court submission in litigation to protect endangered African penguins.
Capacity Strengthening
Building research and litigation capacity on intersectional justice and the law to advance a low-carbon, equitable, and resilient society. Through training programs and postgraduate supervision, we equip researchers with the knowledge and skills to navigate the intersection of climate change and human rights.
Research
Focus
Our research investigates the interconnected challenges of governance and socio-ecological injustice, with a focus on:
SEJ Lab Director
Melanie Murcott
Leading the Charge for Socio-Ecological Justice
Associate Professor, University of Cape Town
Director, Lawtons Africa
Melanie Murcott’s journey as an advocate for socio-ecological justice began at the intersection of her experiences as an attorney and her deep concern for how environmental degradation exacerbates inequality. Witnessing firsthand how vulnerable communities bear the brunt of climate change and ecological impacts, Melanie has dedicated her career to uncovering how laws and policies can be transformative tools for justice.
Her research continues to focus on how the climate crisis disproportionately impacts people and environments in the Global South, emphasizing the human rights violations inherent in climate inaction. As an academic at the University of Cape Town with a dual position at Lawtons Africa, Melanie builds bridges between academia and legal practice, ensuring her work creates tangible impacts for communities and ecosystems.
Partners
