Third Asian Judges Symposium on Law, Policy and Climate Change

26 - 27 September 2016

Event Tabs

ADB President Takehiko Nakao, Supreme Court of the Philippines Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, UNEP DELC International Environmental Law Unit Head Dr. Arnold Kreilhuber, ADB General Counsel Christopher Stephens, and Senator Loren Legarda inaugurated the two-day symposium. Over 10 chief justices, other senior judges, environmental law and climate experts, civil society representatives, and students attended the event.

Lord Robert Carnwath of Notting Hill CVO of the UK Supreme Court judged a moot competition between students from University of the Philippines and Ateneo De Manila University. The moot competition highlighted complex climate change law and policy issues, presented in an adversarial style hearing. A dialogue featured the inquisitorial style of dispute resolution. Other sessions focused on the climate change international treaties and emerging law, the impacts of climate change on vulnerable people, and food and water security and associated mitigation and adaptation policies.

Day 1: 26 September 2016

 
09:00 - 10:00

Inaugural Session

Moderator: Ms. Deborah Stokes, Vice-President for Administration and Corporate Management, ADB

  • Welcome Remarks: Mr. Takehiko Nakao, President, ADB
  • Welcome Remarks: Hon. Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines
  • Opening Remarks: Dr. Arnold Kreilhuber, Head, International Environmental Law Unit, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
  • History of the Asian Judges Network on Environment (AJNE) and its Significant Achievements: Mr. Christopher Stephens, General Counsel, ADB
  • Keynote Address: Ms. Loren Legarda, Senator, Republic of the Philippines
 
10:00 - 10:30
Photo Session and Tea Break
 
10:30 - 12:00

Technical Session 1: Introduction to Climate Change

Session Chair: Hon. Mr. Justice Swatanter Kumar, Chairperson, National Green Tribunal, India
Facilitator: Ms. Atsuko Hirose, Advisor, Office of the General Counsel (OGC), ADB

  • The International Climate Change Regime and its 2015 Paris Agreement:
    Dr. Lavanya Rajamani, Research Professor, Centre for Policy Research, India
  • Will the Paris Climate Agreement Really Make a Difference?
    Professor Ralph Sims, Massey University, New Zealand
  • Climate Change Rights: Trends and Developments in Asia-Pacific
    Professor Ben Boer, University of Sydney and Wuhan University Law School
 
12:00 – 01:30
Lunch Break: Executive Dining Room – Coffee Lounge
 
13:30 – 13:45

Special Case Study Presentation: Descaling Climate Change and UNSDG 7: Case Study
Emeritus Professor Koh Kheng-Lian, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore and Honorary Director, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL)

 
13:45 – 15:00

Special Session 1: A Dialogue with Judges
Moderator: Ms. Irum Ahsan, Senior Counsel

ADB Panelists:

  • Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Tun Arifin Bin Zakaria, Supreme Court of Malaysia
  • Hon. Mr. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan
  • Hon. Mr. Justice Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, President, East Africa Court of Justice
  • Hon. Mr. Justice Adolfo Azcuna, Chancellor, Philippine Judicial Academy
 
15:00 - 15:15
Tea Break
 
15:15–16:45

Special Session 2: Law Moot – Adversarial Format

  • Presiding Judge: The Rt. Hon. Lord Robert Carnwath of Notting Hill, CVO
  • Oralists: Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines International Mooting Teams
  • Moderator: Mr. Gregorio Rafael P. Bueta, Consultant (Legal and Policy Specialist), ADB
 
16:45 – 18:00
Technical Session 2: Climate Change - Food and Water Security and Urbanization
  • Session Chair: Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, Supreme Court of Bangladesh
  • Facilitator: Ms. Briony Eales, Environmental Lawyer – Consultant, ADB

Climate Change Impacts on Food and Water Security – Legal and Judicial Responses
Mr. Sanjay Upadhyay, Managing Partner, Enviro Legal Defence Firm, India

Urbanization and Green City Development
Dr. Nilmini Silva-Send, Assistant Director/ Professor, Energy Policy Initiatives Center, University of San Diego School of Law

Towards Water and Food Security Through Energy Efficiency: Addressing the Adaptation Gap
Dr. Eva Abal, Associate Professor, Global Change Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia

 
18:00 – 21:00
Dinner Reception at ADB co-hosted by the Philippine Supreme Court and ADB
 

Day 2: 27 September 2016

 
08:45–09:00
Recap of Day 1 by Ms. Atsuko Hirose, Advisor, OGC, ADB
 
09:00–09:15
Video Presentation: Hon. Mr. Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin, Superior Tribunal Justicia, Brazil
 
09:15–10:45
Technical Session 3: Global Legal Jurisprudence’s Role in Climate Change
  • Session Chair: Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Lahore High Court
  • Facilitator: Mr. Andy Raine, Legal Officer, UNEP

Role of Developing Countries in the Development of International Environmental Rule of Law
Dr. Parvez Hassan, Chair Emeritus, World Commission on Environmental Law, IUCN

Public Interest Litigation: Climate Change and the Environment
Hon. Mrs. Justice Hima Kohli, Judge, High Court of New Delhi, India

Addressing Climate Change - Evolving Legal Jurisprudence in the ASEAN Region and its Challenges
Hon. Mr. Justice Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Richard Malanjum, Chief Judge, High Court of Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia

Mapping Climate Change Adjudication
Hon. Mr. Justice Brian J. Preston, Chief Judge, The Land and Environment Court of NSW, Australia

 
10:45-11:00
Tea Break
 
11:00-11:15

Special Presentation: Chinese Experience in Judiciary Countermeasures for Climate Change
Hon. Bi Dongsheng, Senior Judge, Supreme People’s Court, People’s Republic of China

 
11:15-12:15
Special Session 3: A Dialogue - Climate Change Case Study from Pakistan Showcasing Inquisitorial Style of Resolution
  • Moderator: Ms. Irum Ahsan, Senior Counsel, ADB
  • Ms. Saima Amin Khawaja, Managing Partner, Progressive Advocates and Legal Consultants, Pakistan
  • Mr. Mansoor Awan, Founder, AJURIS Advocates and Corporate Counsels, Pakistan
 
12:15–13:45
Lunch Break: Cafeteria Mezzanine
 
13:45-15:00
Special Session 4: A Dialogue with Judges

Moderator: Ms. Briony Eales, Environmental Lawyer – Consultant, ADB

Panelists:

  • Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Lyonpo Tshering Wangchuk, Supreme Court of Bhutan
  • The Rt. Hon. Lord Robert Carnwath of Notting Hill, CVO
  • Hon. Mr. Justice Swatanter Kumar, Chairperson, National Green Tribunal, India
  • Hon. Mr. Justice Takdir Rahmadi, Judge, Supreme Court of Indonesia
  • Hon. Mr. Justice Ananda Mohan Bhattarai, Judge, Supreme Court of Nepal
 
15:00-15:15
Tea Break
 
15:15-16:45
Technical Session 4: Climate Change: Its Social Impact and Success Stories

Session Chair: Ms. P. Imrana Jalal, Senior Social Development Specialist, ADB

Impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable Groups
Ms. Irum Ahsan, Senior Counsel, ADB

Climate Refugees: Legal Rights and Status in International Law
Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Lahore High Court, Pakistan

Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation Solutions and Success Stories
Ms. Sarah Khan, Founder/Film Maker, Jugnoo Foundation, Pakistan

 
16:45-17:15
Closing/Valedictory Session

Moderator: Ms. Atsuko Hirose, Advisor, OGC, ADB

  • Closing Remarks - Ms. Deborah Stokes, Vice-President for Administration and Corporate Management, ADB
  • Closing Remarks – Dr. Arnold Kreilhuber, Head, International Environmental Law Unit, Division of Environmental Law and Conventions, UNEP
 
18:00-22:00
Farewell Dinner: EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, hosted by ADB
Preliminary Materials

Symposium Agenda

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473.67 KB
 
Preliminary Materials

Concept Paper

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272.2 KB
 
Preliminary Materials

Programme Booklet

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3.53 MB
 
Special Presentation: Chinese Experience in Judiciary Countermeasures for Climate Change

Hon. Bi Dongsheng, Senior Judge, Supreme People’s Court, People’s Republic of China: Presentation

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658.63 KB
 
Special Presentation: Chinese Experience in Judiciary Countermeasures for Climate Change

Hon. Bi Dongsheng, Senior Judge, Supreme People’s Court, People’s Republic of China: Speech

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329.25 KB
 
Special Session 3: A Dialogue - Climate Change Case Study from Pakistan Showcasing Inquisitorial Style of Resolution

Petition Presentation

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1.43 MB
 
Special Session 3: A Dialogue - Climate Change Case Study from Pakistan Showcasing Inquisitorial Style of Resolution

Commission Presentation

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3.21 MB
 
Special Session 3: A Dialogue - Climate Change Case Study from Pakistan Showcasing Inquisitorial Style of Resolution

Court Presentation

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1.49 MB
 
Special Session 3: A Dialogue - Climate Change Case Study from Pakistan Showcasing Inquisitorial Style of Resolution

Relevant Laws in SAARC and the ASEAN

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354.53 KB
 
Technical Session 4: Climate Change: Its Social Impact and Success Stories

Irum Ahsan, Senior Counsel, Asian Development Bank
Impacts of Climate Change on Vulnerable Groups

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1.13 MB