LAWASIA Environmental Law Conference 2026

Wednesday 19 August 2026

Time

Conference Registration

5.00 pm

Welcome reception

Thursday 20 August 2026

9.00 am

Session 1: Opening session

Welcome remarks by:

• Mr Yap Teong Liang, President of LAWASIA
• Chief Justice, Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika, GCL KBE CSM OBE - Supreme and National Courts of Justice of Papua New Guinea
• Mr Hubert Numane, President of Papua New Guinea Law Society
• Mr Steven Thiru, President of Commonwealth Lawyers Association
• President of South Pacific Lawyers’ Association

9.30 am

Opening address:

Speaker: The Hon. James Marape, MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and Member for Tari Pori

10.00 am

Keynote address: “The enduring importance of the environmental rule of law in times of change”  

Speaker: The Honourable Justice Antonio H Benjamin, Chief Justice of the National Court of Brazil

10.45 am

Morning tea

11.15 am

Session 2: Content of the environmental rule of law

The session will explore the meaning and content of the environmental rule of law. This could draw on the 13 principles enunciated in Part 2 of the IUCN World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law at http://iucn.org/sites/default/files/2022-10/world_declaration_on_the_environmental_rule_of_law_final_2017-3-17.pdf

12.45 pm

Lunch

1.45 pm

Session 3: Implementation of the environmental rule of law

Effective implementation of the law is essential to achieving the environmental rule of law. The session will explore the means of implementation of the environmental rule of law, drawing on Part 3 of the IUCN World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law (see above link).

3.00 pm

Afternoon tea

3.30 pm

Session 4: Threats to the environmental rule of law 

In recent times, some governments around the world, and some multinational corporations involved in extractive industries, such as mining, logging and fishing, have challenged the environmental rule of law. Actions contributing to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and widespread pollution may impede achievement of principles relating to the protection of nature, rights to the environment, ecological sustainability, and inter- and intra-generational equity, and impact indigenous and tribal peoples and minority and vulnerable groups. These actions may also undermine environmental laws and regulations, contrary to the non-regression principle. Tragically, these actions have resulted in threats to, and the loss of, the life and liberty of environmental and human rights defenders, and their lawyers. This session explores these threats to the environmental rule of law.

5.00 pm

Close of Day 1

6.30 pm

Conference dinner

Friday 21 August 2026

9.00 am

Session 5: Institutions for the environmental rule of law 

Effective institutions to execute and enforce the law are essential to achieving the environmental rule of law. These institutions include the executive and judicial branches of government. But vital partners in effective environmental governance are the legal profession and the media. Executive and judicial institutions of government are being disbanded, defunded, or reordered. The legal profession and media are being targeted. Such actions may weaken government accountability. The session will explore what institutions are important in upholding the environmental rule of law, how they are being threatened, and what can be done to address these threats.

10.30 am

Morning break

11.00 am

Session 6: Courts for the environmental rule of law

Courts are vital institutions for the enforcement and upholding of the law and the rule of law. Environmental law and the environmental rule of law are distinctive. Environmental disputes are interdisciplinary, polycentric, uncertain and value-infused, making adjudication of these disputes challenging. Judicial training and capacity-building in environmental law can enhance judges' competences and expertise to adjudicate environmental disputes and uphold the environmental rule of law. The session will share experiences and initiatives in the institutional design of specialised environmental courts, judicial training and capacity-building in environmental law, and developing excellence in court administration.

12.30 pm

Lunch

1.30 pm

Session 7: Environmental dispute resolution 

The resolution of environmental disputes needs to be responsive and tailored to the distinctiveness of environmental disputes. Environmental dispute resolution needs not only to fit the forum (the dispute resolution process) to the fuss (the environmental dispute), but also to frame the form (the way of organising and conducting the process) to most effectively resolve the dispute. The session will share experiences and initiatives in framing the form of the forum to fit the fuss, so as to better resolve environmental disputes. In particular, the session will explore whether and how dispute resolution processes can be adapted to suit local cultures and traditions, such as incorporating the Pacific Way practices and indigenous peoples' traditions in resolving disputes.

3.00 pm

Afternoon tea

3.30 – 4:30pm

Session 8: Closing Session

Keynote address: “Rising to the challenge: How to uphold the environmental rule of law today”

Speaker: The Hon. Justice Ambeng Kandakasi GCL, CBE, Deputy Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea.

Closing remarks by:

• LAWASIA representative 
• Supreme and National Courts of PNG representative 
• Justice John Carey - Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence
• Law Society representative
• Commonwealth Lawyers Association representative 
• South Pacific Lawyers’ Association representative 

4:30

Closing address:

His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae GCL, GCMG, KStJ, Governor General of Papua New Guinea

5.00 pm 

Close of conference