Chris Backes

Prof. Chris Backes is a Professor of Environmental Law at Utrecht University, affiliated with the Utrecht Centre for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law (UCWOSL). He holds a position in the Department of Constitutional Law, Administrative Law and Legal Theory. His expertise spans Environmental Law, Waste Law, Nature Protection Law, Circular Economy, Administrative Law, and Comparative Public Law. He previously served as Professor of Environmental Law at Utrecht University (1998–2007), Director of the Center for Environmental Law and Policy/NILOS, and later as Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law at Maastricht University (2007–2016).

Education: Studied law, politics, and Dutch in Freiburg and Münster; earned an LL.M. in Dutch Law for Foreigners from Nijmegen.

Research focuses on European and national environmental law, circular economy law, and nature conservation law, particularly addressing the nitrogen crisis. He advocates for policy shifts, such as prioritizing emission reductions over deposition limits, and improved extended producer responsibility. His work includes advising the Dutch Minister of Nature and Nitrogen and analyzing legal frameworks for sustainability transitions.

Key affiliations include the Utrecht Center for Water, Oceans and Sustainability Law and involvement in the Pathways to Sustainability (PtS) initiative. His media engagements highlight contributions to debates on nitrogen policy, circular economy, and environmental litigation.