Judges called the strategy “big, bold, and deeply informed by research”
A team from Gadens has taken home the legal innovation challenge prize from LawHack 2026 after it pitched a climate justice compensation scheme that expands corporate liability for climate damage, providing emissions-affected communities with remedies.
The scheme would involve amending the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act to cover scope 3 emissions – indirect emissions from company supply chains. It would also broaden civil penalty provisions to hold more organisations accountable for climate harm.
Communities impacted by corporate emissions would be able to claim compensation without needing to file individual suits through a regulatory compensation scheme. The proposed climate justice compensation scheme would also ensure that funds from civil penalties would be held in trust and funneled to local communities affected by emissions violations.
Community submissions can influence government decisions and boost protections for vulnerable communities. The proposed scheme aims to develop a legal framework that would provide systemic protection under climate law.
LawHack judges Dr Marcelle Burns and Dr Bal Kama said the concept was “big, bold, and deeply informed by research”. They noted that the proposal could shape professional practice.
“Gadens’ winning strategy is a model for how the legal profession can protect communities, hold governments and corporations accountable, and drive urgent change”, said Naomi Lai, National Justice Project COO.
National Justice Project co-hosted LawHack 2026 with the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research. Climate and Indigenous law experts Dr Keely Boom, Professor Beth Goldblatt and Katrina Bullock assisted the challenge participants with their pitches.
Teams from Hicksons, Shine Lawyers, Grata Fund, Wotton Kearney and Macquarie University also entered the competition, which focused on the theme of climate justice this year. They presented proposals to integrate climate-conscious lawyering in the sector, developing legal pathways for people with disabilities to obtain evacuation, housing and recovery support in times of climate crisis, and boosting electric vehicle uptake through addressing anti-competitive practices.
