On Friday, January 23, 2026, our colleague Roger Cox received an honorary doctorate during Maastricht University’s 50th Dies Natalis.
This is a wonderful recognition of his many years of dedication and groundbreaking work in legal cases concerning the responsibility of states and companies to limit the disastrous consequences and major risks of climate change.
Roger has been working on climate issues for almost twenty years. He is the founder of the Planet Prosperity Foundation, with which he has been working on social and economic sustainability since 2007.
An in-depth study of the possibilities of seeking protection against climate change through the law led to the publication of his book Revolutie met Recht (Revolution through Law) in 2011, in which Roger argues that inadequate climate policy is unlawful and also leads to a violation of human rights. This was subsequently confirmed in court in the climate case brought by the Urgenda Foundation against the Dutch State: the world’s first successful lawsuit in which a state’s responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions more rapidly was established. That ruling was upheld by the highest Dutch court and has since been followed in many other lawsuits worldwide.
In 2021, another world first followed when Roger and his team, on behalf of Milieudefensie and other social (environmental) organizations, obtained a ruling establishing that Shell, as an influential oil and gas company, also has a responsibility to pursue sound climate policy and thereby protect the interests of Dutch citizens and future generations. This case is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
For these years of effort and groundbreaking results in the field of climate law, Roger is now receiving an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Law at Maastricht University.
The promoters of the honorary doctorate, Prof. M. Olaerts and Prof. A.C. Broderick, emphasize that the work of Roger and his team has shed new light on the role of law in the fight for climate justice and has had a major and lasting impact on academic and social debate and on the business community.
We congratulate Roger on this wonderful and well-deserved recognition.
In his acceptance speech, Roger emphasizes that it has been known for decades that greenhouse gas emissions from (in particular) the burning of fossil fuels pose an existential threat. Although many consequences and damages are already inevitable, a rapid transition to renewable energy can still mitigate the greatest risks of climate change. This also has many other advantages. A renewable energy system is “better for the economy, better for financial stability, better for energy affordability, and better for energy security and energy independence. Moving away from fossil fuels is therefore a win-win situation, both ecologically and economically,” says Roger, based on the findings of authoritative international organizations.
The fact that, despite this, too little climate action is still being taken is largely due to the significant political, economic, and social influence of the fossil fuel industry, which structurally undermines support for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and presents society with a false picture of the possibilities and opportunities of a clean energy system. In court cases, these false public narratives can be refuted on the basis of facts, Roger explains.
He emphasizes that the honorary doctorate strengthens his determination to continue this work—together with his team and socially engaged organizations such as Milieudefensie.
The university and various media outlets have highlighted the work of Roger and his team in connection with the award ceremony. See, among others:
Maastricht University, January 15, 2026, ‘Lawsuits out of love’, available at https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/nieuws/rechtszaken-uit-liefde
Observant, January 20, 2026, ‘When you feel resistance, you know you’re pushing in the right place’: ‘Honorary doctorate for climate lawyer Roger Cox’, available at https://www.observantonline.nl/Home/Artikelen/id/64169/als-je-tegenkracht-voelt-dan-weet-je-ik-duw-op-de-juiste-plek
Maastricht University, January 26, 2026, “Three honorary doctorates for international impact and social relevance,” available at https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/nl/nieuws/drie-eredoctoraten-voor-internationale-impact-en-maatschappelijke-relevantie
See also:
De Nieuwe Ster December 30, 2025, UM honorary doctorate for climate lawyer Roger Cox (Paulussen), available at https://www.denieuwestermaastricht.nl/eredoctoraat-um-voor-klimaat-advocaat-roger-cox-paulussen/
De Limburger January 26, 2026, ‘Honorary doctorate for Limburg ‘climate lawyer’ Roger Cox’, available at https://www.limburger.nl/regio/maastricht/eredoctoraat-voor-limburgse-klimaatadvocaat-roger-cox/126468278.html
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