Kim Bouwer

Dr Kim Bouwer is an Associate Professor in the Durham Law School and Co-Director of the Durham Energy Institute. She holds an LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand, an LLM from the University of London, and a PhD from UCL. Her roles include convening courses on tort law, energy law, and climate change law at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has held visiting positions at the LSE, KCL, and other global institutions, and previously practiced as a public interest lawyer.

Her research focuses on climate change law, environmental law, and private law (torts), with a particular emphasis on litigation strategies, energy governance, and low-carbon technologies. Notable projects include co-editing Climate Litigation and Justice in Africa (2024) and serving as UK Rapporteur for the British Institute of International and Comparative Law’s corporate climate legal tactics project.

Dr Bouwer’s publications span leading journals such as Nature Sustainability, Legal Studies, and Journal of Environmental Law. Current research themes include just transition litigation, climate education integration in legal curricula, and the intersection of human rights with climate litigation in Africa. She has advised on climate policy and legal frameworks for benefit-sharing in climate finance.

Her teaching and supervision activities include mentoring students on climate law and energy law projects. Recent initiatives include developing climate-conscious legal education programs at Durham Law School and collaborating on reports for institutions like the British Academy.