The law is crucial to conserving the environment and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Environmental legislation can protect the sustainable management of land and natural resources, direct financing to climate actions, and empower people and communities to participate effectively in climate change governance and response.
Judges play a vital role in interpreting and applying environmental law and adjudicating climate cases. As such, they need to understand the precise jurisdiction and instruments of environmental law, as well as the climate science underlining the issues. Such expertise is vital in the ASEAN region, which can be highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as floods, typhoons and sea level rise.
IDLO is seeking to harness the expertise and experience of judges specializing in environmental law and climate adjudication. On 5-6 February 2024, the organization held a workshop in Jakarta, providing a platform for representatives of judiciaries across the ASEAN region to discuss common areas of interest for capacity-building efforts.
The event was part of a new initiative between IDLO and Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia as the Co-Chair of the Working group of the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices.
IDLO’s Indonesia Field Programme Manager, Windu Kisworo, highlighted the opportunities for collaboration at the workshop, which included representatives from diverse jurisdictions in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
“Through the networks we’ve built here, together we can drive significant advancements in environmental law and justice," said Kisworo.
The workshop’s recommendations will now feed into the development of a specialized e-learning training module on environmental law tailored for judges in the ASEAN region.
“Online learning will benefit judges handling environmental cases as it provides an accessible source of knowledge that is flexible with judges' schedules and case resolution obligations," said Justice Nani Indrawati in remarks delivered on behalf of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Indonesia. "In the face of the escalating challenges posed by climate change in the ASEAN region, this gathering marks a significant milestone in our collective pursuit of justice and environmental stewardship.”