This initiative, titled "Rethinking the Green Transition and Criminalization", addresses the evolving dynamics of environmental activism and governance in relation to environmental defenders—a key aspect of the green transition and strengthened environmental protection, aligned with the 4EU+ Flagship 4 research priority. This collaborative initiative aims to scale up research and teaching on the phenomenon of green criminalization.
The ongoing shift towards green transitions and environmental conservation has led to rapidly expanding practices of collaboration and planning. However, it has also brought about social tensions, activism, and changing relationships between states and corporations. These developments are reshaping legal frameworks and business practices, contributing to new patterns of green criminalization, from climate protests across Europe to legal transformations affecting environmental defenders.
The University of Geneva, a co-founder of the Geneva Roadmap initiative for environmental defenders, has a long-standing record of research and policy engagement on these issues. This expertise is backed by extensive collaboration with global South institutions, civil society, and academia, grounded in fieldwork. Meanwhile, the University of Copenhagen’s Center for Global Criminology has become a key research hub for understanding criminalization in a global context, with an expanding focus on environmental concerns and a strong foundation in the social sciences.
Period abroad: shorter visits, August 2024 - November 2025
"The 4EU+ Visiting Professorships programme has provided a unique opportunity to advance a long-standing collaboration on environmental governance and human rights. It has enabled the continuation of discussions initiated at the 2020 World Conservation Congress with my colleagues from the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), fostering innovative teaching and interdisciplinary research.
Beyond its academic benefits, the programme offers an excellent platform for intellectual, social, and professional engagement. I highly recommend it."