Introduction 

Asian Judges Symposium on Environmental 
Decision Making, the Rule of Law, and 
Environmental Justice

Kala K. Mulqueeny, Senior Counsel
Asian Development Bank, Manila
28 July 2010
1. AMBITIOUS
CONCRETE OUTCOMES
 Asian Judges’
Statement on the
Environment
Asian Judges  on Environment  
Volume From Symposium
2. Key Messages
Key Messages
1. Environmental and Climate Change compels an 
Immediate and Urgent Response
2. The complete environmental compliance
and enforcement chain must be effective
3. Judges play a key and unique role in
improving environmental enforcement and
must be given some dedicated attention
4. The Johannesburg Principles on the Role of
Law and Sustainable Development continue
to be relevant
 Key Messages

5. Different institutional forms in different

contexts.
6. Judicial education in Asia needs to
mainstream and integrate environmental
training
7. Integrity within the entire chain of
environmental enforcement and within the
justice system is critical
 Key Messages
7. Expanding Access to environmental justice
involves the formal, administrative, and
informal justice systems
8. Environmental tribunals and other forms of
alternative dispute resolution may be
expeditious and avoid the formal judicial
process.
9. Regional transjudicial networks have been
touted as a new mode of global governance
and a key way of promoting environmental
enforcement
3. Session Overview 
 Session Themes

1. Judicial Innovation in Environmental Law
2. Evolution of Judicial Specialization in 
Environmental Law
3. International Boards and Tribunals
4. Institutionalizing Systems for Promoting 
Environmental Law in Judicial Education
5. Transjudicial Networks for the 
Environment  
 Break‐Out Topics 
1. Challenges in Judicial Decision Making 
on Environment: Expert Evidence and 
Remedies
2. Challenges in Dispute Resolution: 
Alternative Dispute Resolution
3. Challenges in Environmental Justice: 
Access to Justice
4. Strengthening Judicial Capacity and 
Resisting Threats to Integrity