Cormac Cullinan
Encyclopedia
Cormac Cullinan is a practising environmental attorney and author based in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a director of the leading South African environmental law firm
, Cullinan & Associates Inc, and Chief Executive Officer
of EnAct International, an environmental governance consultancy. A former anti-apartheid
activist, and a London-based commercial lawyer, he has practised, taught and written about environmental law
and policy since 1992, and has worked in more than 20 countries.
In the academic field he has lectured and written widely on governance
issues related to human interactions with the environment and is notable for authoring a book, Wild Law
, as well as several works commissioned and published by the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations
. He is a graduate of the University of Natal and the University of London (Kings College) and is an honorary research associate of the University of Cape Town.
His work includes drafting: the Integrated Coastal Management Bill now before Parliament, the agreement between South Africa, Namibia and Angola that established the Benguela Current Commission; waste legislation for KwaZulu Natal and legislation for sustainable land use in the Western Cape.
In 2008 he was listed among the world's most extraordinary environmental champions in Planet Savers: 301 Extraordinary Environmentalists, which lists 301 people in history to be commended for their important role in saving and conserving the environment and promoting sustainable governance, including the likes of Buddha
, St Francis of Assisi and Henry Thoreau.
In April 2008 Cullinan was nominated for the prestigious Men's Health
Best Man in the Public Service Category. The Men's Health Best Man leadership programme is about recognising the top achievers around South Africa, recognising the men who've gone beyond everyday expectations in order to achieve greatness in their field of expertise.
South African newspaper, the Mail & Guardian
, awarded a merit to Cullinan's company, EnAct International, in the Greening the Future 2008 Awards, in the category of companies with innovative environmental strategies that improve business performance, with special commendation to EnAct for its pioneering leadership and important battles won in changing mindsets both locally and globally.
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
, Cullinan & Associates Inc, and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of EnAct International, an environmental governance consultancy. A former anti-apartheid
Internal resistance to South African apartheid
Internal resistance to the apartheid system in South Africa came from several sectors of society and saw the creation of organisations dedicated variously to peaceful protests, passive resistance and armed insurrection. It came from both black activists like Steve Biko and Desmond Tutu as well as...
activist, and a London-based commercial lawyer, he has practised, taught and written about environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
and policy since 1992, and has worked in more than 20 countries.
In the academic field he has lectured and written widely on governance
Good governance
Good governance is an indeterminate term used in development literature to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources in order to guarantee the realization of human rights. Governance describes "the process of decision-making and the process by which...
issues related to human interactions with the environment and is notable for authoring a book, Wild Law
Wild Law (book)
Wild Law: A Manifesto for Earth Justice is a book by Cormac Cullinan that proposes recognizing natural communities and ecosystems as legal persons with legal rights. The book explains the concept of wild law, that is, human laws that are consistent with earth jurisprudence...
, as well as several works commissioned and published by the Food and Agriculture Organization
Food and Agriculture Organization
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is a specialised agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Serving both developed and developing countries, FAO acts as a neutral forum where all nations meet as equals to negotiate agreements and...
of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He is a graduate of the University of Natal and the University of London (Kings College) and is an honorary research associate of the University of Cape Town.
His work includes drafting: the Integrated Coastal Management Bill now before Parliament, the agreement between South Africa, Namibia and Angola that established the Benguela Current Commission; waste legislation for KwaZulu Natal and legislation for sustainable land use in the Western Cape.
In 2008 he was listed among the world's most extraordinary environmental champions in Planet Savers: 301 Extraordinary Environmentalists, which lists 301 people in history to be commended for their important role in saving and conserving the environment and promoting sustainable governance, including the likes of Buddha
Gautama Buddha
Siddhārtha Gautama was a spiritual teacher from the Indian subcontinent, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from the Indian...
, St Francis of Assisi and Henry Thoreau.
In April 2008 Cullinan was nominated for the prestigious Men's Health
Men's Health (magazine)
Men's Health , published by Rodale Inc. in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, United States, is the world’s largest men’s magazine brand, with 44 editions around the world. It is also the best-selling men's magazine on U.S. newsstands. It covers fitness, nutrition, sexuality, lifestyle and other aspects of...
Best Man in the Public Service Category. The Men's Health Best Man leadership programme is about recognising the top achievers around South Africa, recognising the men who've gone beyond everyday expectations in order to achieve greatness in their field of expertise.
South African newspaper, the Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
The Mail & Guardian is a South African weekly newspaper, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa, with a strong focus on politics, government, the environment, civil society and business.- The Mail & Guardian newspaper :...
, awarded a merit to Cullinan's company, EnAct International, in the Greening the Future 2008 Awards, in the category of companies with innovative environmental strategies that improve business performance, with special commendation to EnAct for its pioneering leadership and important battles won in changing mindsets both locally and globally.