Located in the greater Miami area, CEJ is jointly sponsored by Barry and St. Thomas Universities. The Center works closely with both law schools and is the first of its type in the US. Its mission is to re-envision law and governance in ways that support and protect the health and well being of the Earth community as a whole. CEJ seeks to develop a philosophy and practice of law that respect the rights of the natural world and recognize humans as an integral member of the Earth community.

CEJ takes an interdisciplinary approach, creating new ways of responding to the unprecedented ecological challenges of the 21st century. It works with lawyers, scholars, artists, ecologists, poets, scientists, philosophers, theologians, activists and indigenous peoples to help define a new field of law that moves beyond environmental regulation towards human, legal responses that protect the existence of and right to habitat, and participation of all beings within the Earth community. Both Barry and St. Thomas Universities come from a rich Catholic tradition that honors the sacredness of creation and justice for all peoples. Be sure to check out the latest news and upcoming events at CEJ! For a printable brochure, click here. For an overview, please see our slide presentation.

In all of its activities, CEJ strives to further the development of laws and governance systems that promote:

• intrinsic value of the natural world
• biological and cultural diversity
• traditions and land of indigenous peoples
• mutually enhancing human-Earth relationships
• discovery of a sense place and being at home within a local bioregion
• principles of the Earth Charter and the U.N. World Charter for Nature
• sustainable consumption