PM’s climate coordinator lauded for bringing together global judicial fraternity for climate justice

ZAFAR IQBAL:

Romina Khurshid Alam, Coordinator to the Prime Minister for Climate Change, has stressed the importance of vulnerable countries coming together to advocate for climate justice. She made these remarks during the high-level panel discussion titled “Judicial Pathways Towards Climate Justice: Judicial Approaches for Addressing Climate Change Through Global Analysis”, held on Friday at the Pakistan Pavilion at the UN-led global climate summit.Pakistan’s Climate Change Ministry, GGGI sign pact to mobilise green finance for climate action

In her address, the Prime Minister’s climate adviser shared that it was her initiative to create a platform for international judges focused on climate justice, in line with Pakistan’s push for climate finance for the Global South. She explained that today’s event marked an important step towards achieving that goal.

“I’m delighted to have successfully organized this panel, which brought together judges to discuss the critical and expanding role of the judiciary in tackling climate change, especially in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Romina Khurshid Alam. She emphasized the increasing significance of judicial systems in addressing climate change impacts, highlighting that courts have become essential in balancing the urgent environmental challenges with the socio-economic and developmental needs of countries, particularly those in the Global South, where these issues are most pressing.

The panel, held at the Pakistan Pavilion during COP29, featured global judicial leaders alongside Pakistani climate experts, who all stressed the judiciary’s key role in confronting the climate crisis and ensuring climate justice. The discussions also focused on the urgent need for a global judicial coalition to hold governments and corporations accountable and demand climate finance from the Global North to the Global South.

Senator Sherry Rehman, Chairperson of Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, opened the discussion by underlining the escalating climate crisis. She pointed out that although Pakistan contributes less than 1% of global carbon emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters, such as the catastrophic 2022 floods that affected one-third of the country. Senator Rehman also highlighted the growing gap in climate finance, stressing the need for a fair distribution of resources to help vulnerable nations adapt to the impacts of climate change.

“The key to unlocking justice for the Global South is climate finance,” she remarked. “But the financing gap is widening, and the Global South is being left behind.”

The panel, which included distinguished judges and legal experts from around the world, explored the potential of judicial systems to drive climate justice. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, who chaired the session, described climate finance as a fundamental human right. He commended Romina Khurshid Alam for organizing the discussion, stressing that without climate finance, there can be no mitigation or adaptation efforts.

“Climate finance is the lifeline for climate resilience, and the Global South cannot bear this burden alone,” Justice Shah stated. He also discussed Pakistan’s pioneering legal framework on climate change, highlighting the country’s landmark rulings on holding corporations accountable and halting environmentally damaging development projects.

Justice Sapana Malla, of Nepal’s Supreme Court, spoke about how Nepal has expanded environmental rights through judicial activism and constitutional reforms. Meanwhile, Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin of Brazil outlined the challenges judges face when passing judgments on climate disasters, stressing the need for legal systems to evolve in response to the climate crisis. “The judicial system must adapt to address climate change,” he emphasized, calling for proactive legal regimes to ensure climate justice.

A central theme of the panel was the need for a judicial coalition among the V20 countries — a group of nations most vulnerable to climate change. Justice Shah called for stronger legal frameworks to ensure climate finance reaches those in need. “Climate justice is not just an environmental issue; it is a moral and social obligation,” he said. “We need to recognize it as a climate debt owed by the Global North.”

In addition to discussions on climate finance, the panel also addressed how climate justice intersects with gender, transboundary air pollution, and the implementation challenges of international climate agreements like the Paris Accord. Justice Luc Lavrysen, President of the Constitutional Court of Belgium, argued that states have a responsibility to protect citizens from the impacts of climate change and to bring net-zero emissions to reality. “The legal system is a central player in the climate change debate,” he said.

Justice Shah concluded the session by calling for greater international judicial cooperation to pressure global financial institutions to fulfill their climate commitments. The panel also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s judiciary’s leadership in climate justice and thanked the government for its support in the Paris Agreement Compliance Committee.

As the climate crisis deepens, the demand for urgent action and equitable climate finance is more pressing than ever. The discussions at COP29 underscored the need for a global legal framework that prioritizes climate justice and holds all parties accountable for protecting the planet’s future.