Carine David

Carine David is an Associate Professor and Teacher-researcher specializing in constitutional law, environmental law, and overseas territories law at the University of New Caledonia. She is affiliated with the International, Comparative and European Law/ Louis Favoreu Institute - Study and Research Group on Constitutional Justice (DICE / ILF-GERJC). Her academic work focuses on the complex legal frameworks governing New Caledonia and other French overseas territories, with particular attention to constitutional transitions, environmental governance, and fundamental rights.

Dr. David's research interests span constitutional law, overseas law, environmental law, fundamental freedoms, and the innovative field of the right to happiness. Her scholarship explores the intersection of indigenous legal traditions with French constitutional frameworks, particularly in Pacific island territories. She has made significant contributions to understanding how constitutional arrangements can accommodate cultural diversity while ensuring environmental protection and political representation for indigenous populations, with numerous publications examining the integration of customary law into formal legal systems.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on New Caledonia's constitutional evolution, environmental governance in overseas territories, and innovative legal approaches to contemporary challenges like climate change impacts on island communities. A recurring theme in her work is the examination of environmental codes in Pacific territories, particularly the Loyalty Islands Province Environmental Code, which incorporates indigenous perspectives on nature and environmental protection. Her analysis of the Sargasso seaweed phenomenon demonstrates her ability to address unconventional environmental challenges through legal frameworks.

Dr. David has been a central figure in academic discourse surrounding New Caledonia's self-determination process, providing critical legal analysis of the multiple referendums held between 2018-2021. Her scholarship offers nuanced insights into the complex interplay between constitutional law, decolonization processes, and environmental protection in overseas territories, establishing her as a leading expert on Pacific constitutionalism and legal pluralism in postcolonial contexts.