Where We Began

After many years of work and a previous attempt to establish a similar organization, East Coast Environmental Law was incorporated as a Nova Scotia Society in April 2007 with the name East Coast Environmental Law Association (2007). In 2011, we became a registered charity.

Since its establishment more than fifteen years ago, East Coast Environmental Law has built a reputation for being an informed, responsible, and capable organization—one in which steadfast advocates for environmental and climate justice work to support individuals, communities, and other non-governmental organizations throughout Atlantic Canada as we advance our vision for a just and sustainable future.

What We Do

We provide public-interest environmental law services throughout Atlantic Canada to advance our vision for a future in which laws and legal systems protect ecological health and promote environmental and climate justice.

Our work is anchored by the three pillars of our mission statement, which are to advocate for progressive environmental laws and policies in Atlantic Canada, provide public legal education about environmental laws and legal processes, and share our legal skills to support individuals, communities, and organizations that are working to prevent or redress environmental harms.

Our work touches on a wide range of environmental law topics, including:

  • Aboriginal law and Indigenous laws in environmental contexts;

  • biodiversity and species at risk;

  • climate change mitigation and adaptation;

  • environmental impact assessment;

  • environmental rights and rights of nature;

  • fisheries and aquaculture;

  • forestry;

  • marine and coastal areas;

  • protected places;

  • renewable energy; and,

  • resource extraction.

How We Do It

Through our free Environmental Law Inquiry Service and our Resource Library, we offer legal information, educational resources, and other supports within our capacity to individuals, community groups, and other non-governmental organizations that are navigating environmental law issues.

We collaborate with organizations and community groups throughout Atlantic Canada to carry out research projects, facilitate environmental law workshops, and organize collectively to take action for environmental and climate justice.

We partner with law schools and other university programs to create opportunities for law student internships, placement courses, pro bono activities, and professional mentorship.

We encourage and support participation by local law firms and independent lawyers in the field of environmental law, seeking opportunities to work together to enhance access to justice.

We maintain working relationships with government departments and policy-makers and participate regularly in environmental law development and reform.

We participate in environmental impact assessment and decision-making processes at the federal and provincial levels to support meaningful public participation, to see that environmental laws are upheld to their highest standards, and to call for improvements.