ADB Presents at World Law Congress on Environmental and Climate Change Rule of Law

ADB shares transformative work on environmental and climate change rule of law at the World Law Congress organized by the World Jurist Association. 

The World Law Congress is an open legal forum in which heads of State, judges, academics, lawyers, policy makers justices from supranational and national high courts, activists, students and professional linked to the legal world and the Rule of Law converge. Across two days key stakeholders discuss a wide variety of current topics to which the legal community should propose solutions. The history of the World Law Congress is as extensive as the Association’s history. It began in 1963 in Athens, and has continued, almost unstoppable, every two years.

The 2023 Congress was attended by more than 1,000 jurists from 60 countries. ADB General Counsel Thomas Clark made opening remarks at the Judges & Environmental Rule of Law Forum. Principal Counsel Christina Pak contributed to the judicial education panel and Principal Energy Specialist Kelly Hewitt discussed critical cross-cutting themes of the rule of law, energy transition, and climate change. 

The closing ceremony was held at the UN headquarters where global leaders emphasized the need for stronger rule of law to respond to emerging challenges. The World Law Peace & Liberty Award was presented to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Other dignitaries present were His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain; Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada; and Anthony Kennedy, Senior Justice of the United States Supreme Court.