About the initiative
Sustainability as an overarching societal goal is a potential crucial driver for societal development. The development gives rise to a number of challenges to law.
JURiB consolidates and reinforces the work to deal with these challenges through collaborative projects in education and research. The ambition is to ensure that legal aspects of the transformation towards sustainability are fully integrated into teaching and research across the six participating institutions: University of Copenhagen, University of Southern Denmark, Aalborg University, Aarhus University, Roskilde University and Copenhagen Business School.
Future legal practice requires sustainability insights
Sustainability plays a vital role in society, yet it remains a complex and legally challenging field. This is partly because the concept is broad, dynamic and often shaped by competing priorities.
JURiB takes a broad view of sustainability across all legal disciplines, encompassing environmental and climate-related aspects, social and societal aspects, and sustainable governance on all levels. This broad perspective poses resource-related challenges for states, public institutions and private actors, while also raising complex legal questions. Defining clear legal frameworks is critical for turning sustainability goals into tangible outcomes.
Sustainability is deeply embedded in our society and affects virtually every area of legislation and legal discipline to some degree. This applies to management functions in both the public and private sectors, where principles and policies are defined, and impacts the work of lawyers, advisors, and caseworkers tasked with implementing these requirements. It is in fact difficult to envision a future legal position where sustainability does not play a central role.
Current curriculum falls short on legal skills in sustainability
An initial assessment reveals that only a handful of courses currently address sustainability, and that the existing curriculum does not adequately equip current or future law students with the necessary legal skills in sustainability.
Both bachelor’s and master’s programmes require a stronger, more coordinated effort. This means not only introducing new sustainability-focused courses but also rethinking and upgrading existing ones to embed sustainability aspects throughout the curriculum.
Continuing education opportunities in sustainability are vital to keep lawyers and other professionals updated in the area. This creates a strong case for offering targeted professionals continuing education that equips them with the skills needed to integrate sustainability into their work.
Strengthening the link between research and education
The initial findings reveal a close link between education and research. To advance sustainability-focused teaching, it is essential to strengthen legal research in this field, creating a solid framework for both course development and teaching practices.
There is already research focusing on sustainability within various areas of law, but a broader and more comprehensive effort is needed to establish a solid basis for a relevant and up-to-date range of courses. This applies to subjects covering international and EU law as well as those with a national focus—across both public and private law. To support the development of the entire educational field, it is therefore essential to also strengthen the underlying research.
Expected contribution to research and education
Collaboration and knowledge sharing across Denmark’s legal education and research environments in the field of sustainability will contribute to:
- A broader and highly qualified range of sustainability-related courses within Danish law programmes
- Better integration of sustainability elements into existing legal subjects
- Building research capacity in sustainability to ensure:
- research-based teaching
- continued development of research expertise in the field (next generation)
- legal research on sustainability at a high international level
Organisation
The initiative is built on close collaboration between participating institutions and stakeholders, ensuring a well-coordinated approach across research, education and development.
The initiative is led by the Faculty of Law at the University of Copenhagen.
JURiB’s work is led and coordinated by a steering committee with one representative from each of the six participating institutions.
- Professor Vibe Ulfbeck (Chair), Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen
- Professor Nina Dietz Legind, Department of Law, Southern University of Denmark
- Associate Professor Ulla Steen, Department of Law, Aalborg University
- Professor Ole Windahl Pedersen, Department of Law, Aarhus University
- Associate Professor Line Engbo Gissel, Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University
- Associate Professor Henrik Andersen, Department of Business Humanities and Law, Copenhagen Business School
In addition, a management group with representatives from all participating institutions ensures strong local leadership—both for research and the study programmes.
To provide guidance and input on the project’s direction and challenges, a Scientific Advisory Board has been established, consisting of legal experts from the Nordic countries:
- Professor Beate Sjåfell (Chair), Department of Private Law, University of Oslo, NO
- Professor Ole Kristian Fauchald, Department of Public and International Law, University of Oslo, NO
- Professor Eleonor Kristoffersson, School of Behavioural, Social and Legal Sciences, Örebro University, SE
- Professor Anna-Sara Lind, Department of Law, Uppsala University, SE
- Professor Emerita, Lena Sissula-Tulokas, Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki, FI
Want to be part of JURiB?
The initiative will continuously allocate funding to new projects within the five themes and areas described under “Projects.” The first call for proposals will be announced on this website end of January 2026.Funding
JURiB has been made possible through a grant from the VELUX FOUNDATION.
VELUX FOUNDATION is a philanthropic foundation for people and the environment which aims to support a democratic and sustainable society on a knowledge-based and inclusive basis.
Grant: DKK 25 million
Funding period: 2025 – 2031
Start date: 1 May 2025