Session Time and Date  

13 November, 9.00-10.30am 

Conference Room 2

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Concept Summary  

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution threatens the sustainability of our planet and impacts groups in vulnerable situations disproportionately, resulting in environment injustice. There is a need to find innovative and immediate solutions to advance environmental justice. Environmental justice entails equal realization of substantive and procedural environmental rights such as the right to water, food, clean air, a healthy ecosystem, a safe climate and access to participation in environmental decision-making, information and access to justice, among other things. Environmental Legal Clinics (ELCs) have a critical role in advancing environmental justice. Clinical legal education is a vital enabler for the realisation of human rights and access to justice. Clinics provide justice education to young lawyers and enhance access to justice for marginalized groups. They are a critical to provide links for communities to information on legal developments and potential remedies for environmental harm. Such clinics can provide high-quality legal services to people and communities impacted by environmental degradation, in need of information on environmental decision-making processes, and at risk of environmental rights violations. They can also support the progressive development of environmental rule of law at the national and regional levels. 

There are a growing number of ELCs in Asia Pacific however there is limited exchange and collaboration between these clinics. There is great potential to increase the impact of ELCs through networking and south-south collaboration and exchange. Similar such networks exist in Latin America, for example, the Environmental Legal Clinics Alliance is composed of universities from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Peru. This session will explore the role of ELCs to advance people centered justice and environmental justice and the potential for collaboration and exchange amongst ELCs across the region. 

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Objectives 

1. To explore the potential scope of environmental law clinics in the region in advancing rule of law and access to justice. 

2. To understand how ELCs address barriers to access justice 

3. To explore the potential for regional collaboration and networking amongst ELCs 

 

Questions 

• What role can ELCs have in supporting the realisation of procedural environmental rights? 

• What is the scope of ELCs in the region including through legal representation, information, law reform etc? 

• How many ELCs are operating in Asia Pacific? 

• What institutional or other support would be needed to establish a community of practice or alliance between ELCs in the region? 

 

Format/Methodology 

Presentation (10 minutes):  

Introduction and presentation of ELCs.  

Panel Discussion (50 minutes):  

A moderated discussion with 4-5 expert panelists, including public interest lawyers and academics.  

Q&A/ Group Discussion (30 minutes):  

An interactive Q&A segment and Group Discussion session. 

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About the People-Centered Justice Conference  

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangkok Regional Hub, the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), the United Nations Environment Programme  (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and UN Women Asia and the Pacific, in collaboration with the World Justice Project, the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and the Court of Justice of Thailand, will host the conference “Achieving Just Societies: Inclusive Justice Pathways for People and Planet in Asia and the Pacific” This event is scheduled to take place in Bangkok from November 11-13, 2024. 
 
The conference will serve as a dynamic platform for stakeholders to exchange insights, address challenges, and explore innovative, data-driven, and evidence-based approaches to enhancing equal and inclusive access to justice for all through people-centered methods, including in crisis-affected settings. In line with a human rights-based approach and the 'leave no one behind' principles, the event aims to foster partnerships and promote robust access to justice frameworks that better prioritize human rights, as well as the justice needs and emerging priorities of individuals and communities across the Asia and Pacific region. 

 
Ultimately, the conference aspires to reinforce a collective regional commitment to upholding the rule of law, ensuring equal and inclusive access to justice, and protecting human rights, all of which are foundational to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in Agenda 2030.