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 be called upon to apply the law to (i) protect the environment and safeguard the climate; (ii) uphold the rights of their citizens to a clean, safe and sustainable environment; and (iii) hold governments accountable to their commitments regarding climate adaptation in particular. He also pointed out the accelerating wave of climate litigation across the world and the plethora of climate-related cases coming before courts.

Andrew Raine

Andy Raine is currently the Head of the International Environmental Law Unit in the Law Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment). He leads a team based in Nairobi that works globally towards the progressive development and implementation of international environmental law. Andy is an Australian and UK-trained lawyer with expertise in environmental law, policy and governance at the national, regional and international levels.