Pakistan’s Judiciary Champions Climate Justice at COP29
The Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, successfully concluded a series of impactful sessions on international climate governance and judicial uses of science at the Pakistan Pavilion during the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The sessions underscored Pakistan’s commitment to advancing climate governance and regional cooperation in climate governance.
A distinguished Supreme Court delegation, led by Honorable Mr. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and including Honorable Mrs. Justice Ayesha A. Malik and Honorable Mr. Justice Jawad Hassan, represented Pakistan at the event. Their participation highlighted the judiciary’s essential role in addressing climate change through legal interventions and judicial governance.
The Pakistan Pavilion hosted two sessions, “Judicial Pathway Towards Climate Justice” and “Integrating Science into Judicial Decision-Making,” featuring esteemed judges, parliamentarians and legal experts from across the globe, fostering cross-jurisdictional dialogue. Both sessions drew large and engaged audiences. The panels were moderated by Dr. Maira Hayat (Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame). The first panel, Judicial Pathway Towards Climate Justice, chaired by Honorable Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, included international leaders like Senator Sherry Rehman (Chair of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination), Prof Luis Gabriel Franceschi (Assistant Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations), Justice Sapana Malla (Supreme Court of Nepal), Justice Luc Lavrysen (President of the Constitutional Court of Belgium), Honorable Justice Jawad Hassan (Lahore High Court) and Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin (Superior Tribunal de Justica, National High Court of Brazil) shared insights on landmark rulings and judicial strategies for effective climate governance.
The second panel, Integrating Science and Judicial Decision-Making, featured Justice Ayesha A. Malik, along with distinguished experts like Dr. Abid Suleri (SDPI), Dr. Adil Najam (Global President, WWF) and Dr. Fahad Saeed (Senior Climate Scientist, Climate Analytics). The session deliberated on conceptions of science and expertise, the political economy of scientific work, and the importance of incorporating climate science into judicial deliberations to enhance evidence based rulings on environmental issues.
The sessions met with a strong positive response, with large attendance from international delegations, judicial representatives, academics, journalists and climate advocates. Participants appreciated the dialogue, forward-thinking perspectives, and comprehensive approach to integrating judicial and scientific expertise in tackling climate challenges.
“Pakistan’s judiciary is demonstrating leadership in addressing complex climate challenges. Our judiciary’s approach to climate justice is forward-thinking and rooted in principles of fairness and resilience,” stated Ms. Riffat Inam Butt, Secretary of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan. “These sessions have reinforced the necessity for a science-informed legal framework, ensuring sustainable and effective climate solutions in our region.”
The Pakistan Pavilion’s contributions to COP29 have reaffirmed Pakistan’s role in the global climate dialogue, underscoring a commitment to judicial innovation and environmental justice. The engagement with international judicial leaders has set a foundation for ongoing collaboration, strengthening Pakistan’s capacity to address climate issues through progressive legal frameworks.
