The Faculty of Law at Diponegoro University once again held the Undip Global Classroom (UGC) as part of its efforts to strengthen academic capacity based on a global perspective. Held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the event featured Prof. Volker Roeben, Ph.D., Professor of International Law and Dean of Durham Law School, Durham University, as the keynote speaker, with M. Nafi Uz Zaman, S.H., M.H. as a discussant.
In the lecture titled “International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the Law of the Sea and Climate Change,” the lecture examined recent developments in international maritime law, particularly ITLOS’s role in addressing climate change. Prof. Roeben, who has an extensive academic track record in international law and experience with various global institutions, emphasized the importance of integrating the legal regimes of the sea and climate change law to address global environmental challenges.
In his presentation, he explained that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) remains the primary framework for regulating international maritime law, with most of its provisions having evolved into customary international law. However, new dynamics have emerged amid the growing urgency of climate change, particularly regarding marine environmental protection under Part XII of UNCLOS.
One key focus was the 2024 ITLOS Advisory Opinion, which held that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions can constitute marine environmental pollution. This finding marks an important conceptual development in international law, as it broadens the understanding of pollution from solely direct activities at sea to encompass land-based activities that impact marine ecosystems.
Furthermore, Prof. Roeben highlighted that states have a due diligence obligation to regulate the activities of private actors within their jurisdiction, including in the context of controlling greenhouse gas emissions. Failure to take adequate regulatory measures could expose states to international liability. Furthermore, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities provides an important basis for determining each state’s obligations, taking into account its capacity and its contribution to global emissions.
The discussion also emphasized the importance of a systemic integration approach to international law, in which various regulations—including UNCLOS, UNFCCC, and the Paris Agreement—are understood not in isolation but as a complementary whole. In this context, scientific developments, particularly as reflected in the IPCC reports, constitute an important reference for interpreting state obligations.
The event was interactive, with students, particularly those in the International Law class, actively participating. Questions raised included the legal implications for fisheries management, sea-level rise, and the potential for future developments in international litigation. Through the Undip Global Classroom, the Faculty of Law at Diponegoro University reaffirmed its commitment to providing learning that is responsive to developments in contemporary international law, while simultaneously encouraging students to critically understand the relationship between law, the environment, and global governance.