Speech prepared for delivery at the World Judicial Conference.
Zhou Qiang , Chief Justice , President of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China
Yang Wanming, Justice, Vice-President of the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China
Wang Yubo, Governor of Yunnan Province of the People’s Republic of China
Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity
Distinguished Justices, Judges and International experts
The COVID-19 pandemic is global tragedy. But is it not a one-off, or even the biggest threat humanity faces. It is an overture of what is to come if we do not transform our economies and societies. This means taking real and meaningful action to stabilize the climate, protect our natural world and stem pollution. We must do this to have any chance of creating a world of prosperity, equality and peace.
As we seek to carry out this great and essential task, environmental law will be critical.
Environmental rule of law is essential for the right to a healthy environment, which is in turn essential for the sustainable development agenda. We need effective institutions that support public participation and access to information and justice, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Judges, of course, are at the heart of the law. Judges enable environmental and climate justice by holding all actors, including governments, to account and enforcing laws. And, by protecting environmental defenders, judges protect nature. This is because these defenders, whom we know face great threats, are holding back the tide of unscrupulous people who would strip the planet bare in the name of short-term profit.
Judges will play an ever-growing role in shaping a sustainable future, which is why UNEP is committed to supporting them.
Judges are increasingly being called upon to incorporate principles of environmental law in their judgements. And they have been stepping up.
In 2016, a UNEP analysis revealed there were over 1,200 specialized environmental courts and tribunals. This year, we will release an updated analysis that will show a significant increase in this important trend.
In this regard, let me congratulate the Supreme People’s Court of China. In the last decade, China has created over 1,270 specialized environment tribunals, collegiate benches, detached tribunals and circuit courts – at provincial, regional and city level. And of course, the Supreme People’s Court established the environmental and resource tribunal in June 2014. We, at UNEP, are pleased to collaborate with these and all other courts across the world as they work to strengthen the role of environmental law.
Still, we need to equip more judges with foundational knowledge and tools on environmental matters and to strengthen the solidarity among the members of the judiciary. UNEP has long been deeply involved in capacity building for judges. Through the Global Judges Programme. Through the Asian Judges Network on the Environment. Through regional and global fora. And through the Global Judicial Institute on the Environment – a network organized by judges for judges – in which UNEP is a proud partner. Judicial networking and peer exchange through these programmes is an essential tool. We will continue to support it.
Dear Friends,
I hope to see deepened cooperation between countries and judges emerge from this conference. I am particularly encouraged to see biodiversity, and Kunming, on the agenda. Your discussions will provide vital contributions to the global discourse on biodiversity protection – and I ask you to pay special attention to the role of environmental defenders, who we must protect if we want them to win the battle for nature on the frontlines.
I look forward to hearing the outcomes of your conference and working together as we strive to strengthen environmental rule of law, and so build a better future for all life on earth.
Thank you.
Executive Director
