Jakarta—Over 50 judges from across Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region have gathered for the second Asia Pacific Judicial Convening on Environmental and Climate Law Adjudication, a five-day event to enhance judicial capacity in tackling complex environmental and climate-related disputes.
The convening, which runs from December 2 to 6 at the Indonesia Judicial Training Center in Bogor, is spearheaded by the Working Group on Judicial Education and Training (WG JET) of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices (CACJ) in partnership with the Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL) and ClientEarth. The initiative aligns with CACJ’s Work Plan 2020–2025 and ASEAN’s vision for a climate-adaptive region. It focuses on equipping judges with tools to interpret and apply environmental and climate law effectively while promoting collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
“There is a need for judges to keep abreast of legal developments on environmental issues and the impact of climate change. We hope this convening can help facilitate interpretation of environmental law principles. Participants can also take away key learnings on the treatment of climate science as evidence, and on constructing valid legal argumentation that reflects the broader context in which judgments are made,” said Judge Bambang Hery Mulyono, Head of Judicial Policy Strategy for Indonesia’s Supreme Court, in a statement at the opening of the event.
Prominent judicial figures, including Justice Ayesha Malik (Pakistan), Justice Prakash Srivastava (India), Retd. Justice Michael Wilson (Hawai’i), and Justice I Gusti Agung Sumanatha (Indonesia) are among the key speakers. They will discuss the judiciary’s role in advancing climate justice, addressing human rights concerns, and interpreting international agreements such as the Paris Agreement in regional contexts.
Elizabeth Wu, Legal Consultant at ClientEarth, emphasised the event’s significance: “We hope this platform will continue to encourage an exchange of knowledge and best practices and support environmental and climate protection.”
Raynaldo G. Sembiring, Executive Director of ICEL, said that “in addressing the climate crisis, courts play a pivotal role in promoting justice by linking human rights, sustainability, and environmental restoration. The Asia Pacific Judicial Convening on Environmental and Climate Law Adjudication is a strategic forum to strengthen this role, ensuring that we work towards intergenerational equity and fostering a sustainable and fair future for everyone”. (nsh)
Banner photo: Asia Pacific Judicial Convening on Environmental and Climate Law Adjudication (ICEL-ClientEarth/handout)
