News

The European Union and Climate Change: An Academic Reflection in a Changing World

July 28, 2025
An in-depth analysis of the European Union’s role in the fight against climate change brought together national and international experts at a webinar organized by the Jean Monnet Module.

On June 26, the international webinar “The European Union and Climate Change” took place, an academic event organized by the Jean Monnet Module and the Department of International Studies at the Faculty of Administration and Social Sciences of Universidad ORT Uruguay. 

The event, which was streamed via Zoom, drew a diverse audience interested in understanding the European Union’s role as a global player in addressing today’s environmental challenges.

Over the course of two thematic sessions, key issues related to the European Green Deal and its impact on both the EU legal framework and the reshaping of international trade were addressed. The event provided a forum for analysis and debate, enriched by contributions from national and international experts in the academic and diplomatic fields.

The Legal Framework for Climate Change in the European Union

The first session, titled “The Legal Framework for Climate Change in the European Union,” featured James May (Washburn University, United States) and Juan Manuel Rivero Godoy —professor of public international law at ORT’s School of Administration and Social Sciences—who also served as moderator. 

The discussion delved into the legal framework underpinning climate action in Europe, including directives, treaties, and regulatory mechanisms.

https://youtu.be/lzmer8Jn7Gc

Do the trade and climate change agendas diverge or converge in the new international trade order?

The second session, titled “Trade and Climate Change Agendas: Do They Diverge or Converge in the New International Trade Order?”, featured Valeria Csukasi —Undersecretary of the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs—and former Ambassador Guillermo Valles

The session was moderated by Juan Labraga, professor of International Trade at ORT and director of Trade Policy Advisory Services at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The discussion provided an opportunity to reflect on the tensions and synergies between environmental and trade policies in a constantly evolving global landscape.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc_tbKDyX3E