Call for Papers: Special Issue on Climate Change and International Arbitration (JOIA 43.6, December 2026)

The Kluwer Journal of International Arbitration (JOIA) is pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue 43.6 (December 2026) on “Climate Change and International Arbitration.” Guest Editors Professor Peter Cameron and Dr. Thomas Lehmann will edit this issue.

This Special Issue will publish select papers on the implications of climate change and climate change law in international commercial and investment arbitration.

Climate change is a ubiquitous phenomenon affecting – actually or potentially - all aspects of economic development, whether through extreme weather events or as a trigger for new fundamental economic policy initiatives, such as the ‘net zero transition’, which in turn has multiple indirect and direct effects. In this context, arbitration is a forum of choice for contractual disputes instigated not only by drastic weather events (e.g., in the insurance, construction, energy, transportation sectors), but also (1) for a wide range of disputes between foreign investors and states (e.g., as a result of the rapid scaling up of renewable energies; early decommissioning of energy plants; significant shifts in incentivising policies, or climate policies affecting the design and performance of investment contracts), and (2) among commercial parties themselves (e.g., operators of infrastructure and suppliers of equipment) in a context of complex supply chains Beyond these disputes, climate change concerns can directly impact the formation of international economic law, notably in the negotiation of new international investment agreements.

This Special Issue will carefully select papers addressing the role of arbitration in the complex set of issues set in motion by the climate change phenomenon. The compilation will offer new and distinct theoretical and doctrinal insights on a subject likely to have long-lasting significance in international arbitration.

Submissions to this Special Issue may include, but are not limited to:

• Contractual disputes arising from or alleged to relate to climate change-related weather events.
• Impact of climate change policies on the stability of investment contracts.
• Contractual disputes arising from the implementation of climate change policies.
• Issues raised in insurance disputes in respect of climate change.
• Interpretation of investment treaty standards in light of climate change concerns.
• The role of the ICJ advisory opinion and/or judgments of other international legal bodies in commercial or investment arbitration.

The papers will be subject to a rigorous double peer review selection process. The Journal privileges the quality and originality of manuscripts. The general author guidelines of the journal apply and can be found here.

Manuscripts should be submitted to [email protected] for consideration by 10 July 2026.