Call for Papers: IACL Istanbul Roundtable

International Association of Constitutional Law Roundtable

Constitutionalism in the Age of Global Ecological Challenges

5-6 June 2026

The Istanbul Bar Association and the Ankara University Faculty of Law

Istanbul, Türkiye

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference subject-matter

Global ecological challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, transboundary pollution, and freshwater depletion, ecosystem collapse, and widespread environmental degradation, are reshaping the political and legal landscape of our time. These interconnected ecological issues operate as structural forces that transform societies, strain public institutions, and challenge the foundational normative and institutional principles on which constitutional democracies rely.

These challenges reveal significant tensions between:

                 •                The need for urgent ecological action and the principles of democratic accountability,

                 •                Administrative efficiency and constitutional limits, and

                 •                The universal nature of ecological risks and the territorial limits of constitutional frameworks, and

•         The interplay between international and domestic legal orders.

In light of these pressures, constitutionalism is increasingly mediating these complex tensions. As ecological instability becomes a permanent global reality rather than an episodic issue, constitutional frameworks face the task of evolving to address governance contexts characterized by uncertainty, complexity, and international interdependence. This raises essential questions:

                 •                What are the constitutional duties and international obligations of states when confronting risks to the planet's ecology?

                 •                How can frameworks of constitutional rights effectively respond to environmental changes that are widespread, cumulative, and intergenerational?

                 •                To what extent do ecological challenges necessitate rethinking of traditional concepts such as the separation of powers, legality, and the rule of law?

                 •                What role should the judiciary occupy in addressing ecological harm, climate change, and governmental inaction?

Eligibility and topics to be addressed

Submissions are invited from senior and junior scholars- who are PhD candidates or within seven years of completion of their PhD (or equivalent degree)- in English or French. 

Within the frame of the conference subject-matter, we welcome proposals addressing

●       Impacts of climate change on marginalized and climate-vulnerable groups

●       Ecological displacement, migration, and the constitutional protections

●       Executive power and ecological crises

●       The environmental rule of law and oversight mechanisms

●       Participatory and deliberative models of ecological democracy

●       The roles of the Bar Associations and civil society organizations on environmental justice.

Abstract submission

Applicants are required to submit their CV and abstracts in English or French (not exceeding 500 words) by March 2, 2026 (GMT+3/Türkiye time) to selin.esen71@gmail.com and ibrahimkaboglu@yahoo.fr (please use “CfP: Constitutionalism in the Age of Global Ecological Challenges” as the subject line of your e-mail). Notifications will be sent out by March 15, 2026.

4. Costs, travels, and accommodation

There is no fee for submitting papers. The Istanbul Bar Association offers to cover three nights of accommodation for speakers. Coffee and lunch will be provided during the Roundtable.

5. Dates and Venue

Scholars whose papers are selected for presentation in the conference will be informed in advance about the schedule and location of their presentations.