We run bold and ground-breaking environmental cases to protect our natural world.

We can help you and your community use the law to protect the environment.

Our legal resources are designed to help you understand your rights and responsibilities and empower you to take the next step.

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Our vision and mission

Our vision is a world where nature thrives.  
Our mission is to be the leading environmental law practice in the Australia-Pacific region delivering legal solutions for people, nature and our climate.   

See Our Impact

Protecting Country, habitat, wildlife and water

Supreme Court action over Glencore’s McArthur River Mine

Traditional Owners and the Northern Territory’s peak environment group are taking the NT Government to the Supreme Court over its decision to slash the environmental bond of…

Blog NT

Awaiting decision on first ever legal challenge to NSW Forest Logging Agreement

Australia’s wildlife is in crisis. The bulldozing of forests is pushing some of our most iconic species like the greater glider, koala and grey-headed flying fox to the brink of…

Blog NSW

Largest ever NT groundwater licence faces Supreme Court challenge

EDO has launched legal action on behalf of Central Australia’s peak environmental body, the Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC), challenging the approval of the Northern…

Blog NT

Adani Mine’s Water Plans Set to Face New Scrutiny After Court Win

In a win for the community and our clients, the Federal Court has upheld our client the Australian Conservation Foundation’s legal challenge to the approval…

Blog QLD

First Nations Lore key to Flying-fox recovery in the Wet Tropics

In a landmark collaborative report, EDO is urging the Queensland Government to adopt a modern framework of laws led by First Nations Lore and the latest scientific…

Blog QLD

Huge win for Tasmanian Wilderness as Lake Malbena heli-tourism plans withdrawn

A planning appeal relating to a heli-tourism development at Halls Island, Lake Malbena, in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) has been withdrawn,…

Blog TAS

Equinor abandons plans to drill in Bight

Environmental Defenders Office joins our client The Wilderness Society (South Australia) in strongly welcoming news that Norwegian multinational Equinor has abandoned its plans to…

Blog SA

United Nations Raises Human Rights Concerns Over Proposed PNG Mine

Eleven United Nations representatives have written to stakeholders of the proposed Frieda River copper and gold mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to raise their concerns about the…

Blog international

High Court Victory as Acland mine sent back for fresh hearing

Farmers and community members from Acland and surrounds have won a significant victory in the High Court, which today ordered a fresh Land Court hearing into the controversial…

Blog QLD

Solomon Islands residents win historic battle to save their island home against bauxite mine

The peoples of Wagina in Solomon Islands have won a historic battle against a proposed bauxite mine development, which would have taken up 60% of their island home and created…

Blog international

Tackling climate change

World-first Federal Court case over Santos’ ‘clean energy’ & net zero claims

The Environmental Defenders Office, acting on behalf of the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR), has filed a Federal Court case against gas giant Santos over…

Blog Australia

Bylong Valley by Dean Sewell via Lock the Gate

It’s Over: Final Victory as Bylong Coal Project Appeal Rejected

The epic legal battle to protect the pristine Bylong Valley from a massive new coal mine has been won, after the High Court today declined to hear an appeal by the…

Blog NSW

Young Australians in Human Rights Win Over Clive Palmer Mine

Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal has failed in a legal bid to strike out landmark human rights objections to its Galilee Coal Project, clearing the way for young Queenslanders and…

Blog QLD

Improving the law

Reforming Australia’s Nature Laws

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is Australia’s key environmental legislation, tasked with regulating activities that may…

Explainer Australia

Empowering the NSW EPA to Prevent Climate Pollution

In our new report, Empowering the EPA to prevent climate pollution, EDO examines how the NSW EPA can put in place mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions using its existing…

Blog NSW

Management of Shark Fin Trade to and from Australia

A report by Environmental Defenders Office (‘EDO’), Humane Society International Australia (‘HSI’) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (‘AMCS’) reveals…

Reports Australia

Our people

Our team of dedicated and expert lawyers, scientists, communicators and support staff are our most valuable resource in our critical fight to defend the environment.

First Nations Strategic Advisory Committee

Join the team or become a volunteer at EDO

EDO people work in every state and territory of Australia. We provide a supportive and inclusive work environment underpinned by the values of Commitment, Diversity, Integrity and Vision.

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