Asia-Pacific Judicial Conference on Climate Change Adjudication: Trends and Impacts

Events

Asia-Pacific Judicial Conference on Climate Change Adjudication: Trends and Impacts

07 October 2019 to 08 October 2019
Nadi
Fiji

The Supreme Court of Fiji (SCF), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the United Nations Environment Programme, cohosted the Asia-Pacific Judicial Conference on Environmental and Climate Change Adjudication (Conference) on 7-8 October 2019, in Nadi, Fiji under the banner of the Asian Judges Network on Environment (AJNE), the unique judicial association working towards strengthening environmental and climate change adjudication.

The Conference is a continuation of the annual gathering of AJNE Chief Justices, senior judges, legal and multi-disciplinary experts, and environment and climate change advocates, which began in 2011; and will be the first one to be held in the Pacific region.

Program and Learning Materials: 
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
07 Oct 2019 Inaugural Session Welcome Remarks
In his welcome remarks, Justice Kamal Kumar highlighted the constitutional right of every Fijian to a clean and healthy environment and the Fijian government...
Hon. Acting Chief Justice Kamal Kumar
07 Oct 2019 Inaugural Session Opening Remarks
On behalf of the Asian Development Bank, Cathy Marsh welcomed the participants to the Asia-Pacific Judicial Conference on Climate Change: Trends and Impacts...
Catherine Marsh
07 Oct 2019 Inaugural Session Opening Remarks
Andrew Raine drew the participants' attention to the worsening climate crisis and the crucial role of judges in climate action. Judges will increasingly...
Andrew Raine
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 1: Focus on the Pacific: Regional Environmental and Climate Change Issues Overview of Fiji's Climate Change Challenges and Responses
Shivanal Kumar first talked about climate science and climate change impacts in Fiji, with emphasis on Tropical Cyclone Winston and the relocation of ...
Shivanal Kumar
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 1: Focus on the Pacific: Regional Environmental and Climate Change Issues Climate Justice and Disasters - A Focus on the Pacific
Prof. Rosemary Lyster discussed about climate disasters, the various climate justice approaches and keyissues, the United Nations Framework Convention...
Rosemary Lyster
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 1: Focus on the Pacific: Regional Environmental and Climate Change Issues Climate Change Updates: Paris Agreement, Rulebook, and Recent Developments
Maria Cecilia T. Sicangco discussed the 2015 Paris Agreementand the events that transpired after it was signed, such as the September 2019 UN Climate ...
Maria Cecilia Sicangco
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 1: Focus on the Pacific: Regional Environmental and Climate Change Issues Three Little Pigs: Make Friends and Save the Climate
Briony Eales explained climate change, its impacts, and the various means of mitigating and adapting to climate changethrough a creative retelling ofThe...
Briony Eales
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 2: Emerging Issues on Climate Change – Gender Front Gender Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
Justice Robyn Layton shared an ADB project that she has been working on with Dr. Mary Picard. This project analyzes the climate change and disaster risk...
Robyn Layton
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 2: Emerging Issues on Climate Change – Gender Front Climate Migration and Impacts on Heritage and Identity
Sarah Queblatin talked about how climate change destroyscultural heritage and identity. She alsoidentified the frameworks, studies, and approaches to ...
Sarah Queblatin
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 2: Emerging Issues on Climate Change – Gender Front Who Suffers the First and the Worst: Is Climate Change Unfair?
Irum Ahsan discussed the effects of climate change, the definition of climate vulnerability, and the climate impacts on vulnerable groups, particularly...
Irum Ahsan
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 3: Coastal Management, Healthy Oceans, and Nature Plastic Pollution in Oceans: Regional Focus and Judicial Strategies
Maria-Goreti Muavesi talked about marine plastic pollution and its impacts onPacific Islands, the strategies for dealing with marine plastic pollution...
Maria-Goreti Muavesi
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 3: Coastal Management, Healthy Oceans, and Nature Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective
Kasi Taukeinikoro and Colin Philp shared the Duavata Sustainable Tourism Collective's definition of sustainable tourism, their values, and what they do...
Kasi Taukeinikoro, Colin Philp
07 Oct 2019 Technical Session 3: Coastal Management, Healthy Oceans, and Nature Good Seatizenship: Regional Approaches to Protecting Reefs and Ocean Resources
Anna R. Oposa discussed about marine biodiversity and illegal marine wildlife trade. To protect and conserve marine resources, she suggested establishing...
Anna Oposa
Date Session / Activity Presentation Material Speaker(s)
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 4: Climate Litigation - Trends and Impacts Climate Change and Judges
Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin spoke to the participants about (i)the general premises concerning judges vis-a-vis the climate change crisis and (ii) ...
Antonio Herman Benjamin
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 4: Climate Litigation - Trends and Impacts Climate Litigation: The Fight Heats Up
Briony Eales explained the concept and types of climate litigation. She thendiscussed a few cases exemplifying the complexities ofstanding for public ...
Briony Eales
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 4: Climate Litigation - Trends and Impacts Redress for Climate Change Impacts on Human Rights - Carbon Majors Example
Grizelda Mayo-Anda shared her expertise in seeking redress for climate change impacts on human rights by filing the Carbon Majors petition before the ...
Grizelda Mayo-Anda
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 4: Climate Litigation - Trends and Impacts Best Judicial Practice from South Asia
Ritwick Dutta discussed the different kinds of environmental litigation and legal issues that have emerged in Asia. He also showed news clippings on the...
Ritwick Dutta
08 Oct 2019 Breakout Session: Sustainable Judicial Capacity in the Pacific for Adjudicating Environmental and Climate Change Cases: Working Towards a Regional Strategy Breakout Session Results
Andrew Raine and Matthew Baird led a session which aimed to formulate a regional strategy for Pacific judiciaries. With Mentimeter, the facilitatorsgathered...
Andrew Raine, Matthew Baird
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 5: Sustainability of Climate Actions Sustainable Infrastructure Development Strategies (SIDS) for SIDS
Sonia Chand Sandhu talked about the sustainability challenge, response to environmental degradation and climate change, total asset management approach...
Sonia Chand Sandhu
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 5: Sustainability of Climate Actions Passoon
Passoonis a short profile of a young climate activist in Dir, Pakistan named Manal Shad. In Pashto, Passoon means to rise up for a cause, and this film...
Sarah Jehaan Khan
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 5: Sustainability of Climate Actions Sustainability of Climate Mitigation and Adaptation: Resource Depletion
Sarah Jehaan Khan highlighted the role of women in addressing environmental and climate challenges. Their dependence on natural resources leads to both...
Sarah Jehaan Khan
08 Oct 2019 Technical Session 5: Sustainability of Climate Actions Sustainable Energy: Carbon Neutrality and Renewables in Asia-Pacific - The Legal Response
Sanjay Upadhyay discussed about the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, the sustainable development goals, and the concept of carbon...
Sanjay Upadhyay
08 Oct 2019 Plenary Session: Judicial Cooperation and Way Forward Judicial Cooperation and the Way Forward
Andrew Raine and Matthew Baird discussed the results of thebreakout session and identified three key actions moving forward, namely: (i) the development...
Andrew Raine, Matthew Baird
08 Oct 2019 Closing Session Closing Remarks
In his closing remarks, Justice Kamal Kumar thanked the participants for attending the conference. He notedthe benefits of having a wide range of speakersshare...
Hon. Acting Chief Justice Kamal Kumar

Disclaimer

The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.