News
Legal and Judicial Experts Explore Ways to Strengthen Environmental Protection and Address Climate Change at COP29 Side Events Organized by ADB Law and Policy Reform Program
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program co-organized key side events on climate change, forest conservation, and judicial action. Highlights included discussions on forest finance, the Model Forest Act Initiative, and judicial perspectives on climate litigation.
ADB Workshop on Policy Architecture for High Integrity Carbon Markets
ADB held a deep dive carbon markets workshop on 10-11 December 2024 in Singapore with policymakers from 23 developing member countries (DMCs), as well as standard setters, market makers, and other key stakeholders following the breakthrough in the international carbon market under article 6 of the Paris Agreement, at COP29. The discussions focused on strategies to develop robust and high-integrity carbon markets at both the national and international levels.
ADB and IFAD Sign MOU to Enhance Law and Policy Collaboration in Forestry, Food, and Agriculture Sectors
On 3 September 2024, on the sidelines of the Annual Meeting of IFI General Counsels in Montevideo, Uruguay, the Asian Development Bank General Counsel Thomas M. Clark and the International Fund for Agricultural Development General Counsel Katherine Meighan signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration in legal and policy development in the forestry, food, and agriculture sectors, as well as their shared interest in advancing environmental rule of law
ADB Joins Policy Dialogue on Climate Change, Water and Forests in Brasilia
On 23 August 2024, ADB General Counsel Thomas M. Clark joined senior government officials, high court justices and legal and climate experts at the International Symposium on Climate Change, Water and Forests, sponsored by the Brazilian Foreign Affairs and Finance Ministries, the National High Court of Brazil and the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law.
Asian Development Bank Collaborates with Indonesian Stakeholders on the Model Forest Act Initiative
The Model Forest Act Initiative held a pivotal week of intensive work and knowledge sharing in Indonesia on 26-30 July 2024, bringing together leading experts in forest law and policy to refine the draft Model Forest Act and engage with key stakeholders.
ADB Presents the Model Forest Act Initiative at the 19th Session of the UN Forum on Forests
ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program, together with the United Nations Environment Programme, presented the Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) to UN member states, permanent observers and regional and international organizations at the 19th Session of the UN Forum on Forests in New York City.
ADB Holds Comprehensive Training for Cambodian Judges on Climate and Environmental Law
On 11–15 March 2024, ADB's Law and Policy Reform Program collaborated with the Royal Academy for Justice of Cambodia to provide comprehensive training for judges in handling climate and environmental law litigation. This workshop marked a significant innovation in judicial education on environmental law because it focused on the craft of adjudication, complementing previous training on climate and environmental law.
ADB Hosts Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) Drafting Committee Meeting and Philippines Multi-Stakeholder Consultations
The Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) is a novel effort to provide countries across the globe with a comprehensive and innovative blueprint for legislators, policymakers, and other stakeholders for the protection, conservation, restoration, and ecologically sustainable management of forests.
ADB General Counsel Wins Climate Law & Governance Global Leadership Award
On 5 December 2023, General Counsel Thomas M. Clark was awarded the prestigious Climate Law & Governance Global Leadership Award during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai. The award recognizes the General Counsel's outstanding contributions to rapidly innovating legal instruments to mobilize financial flows towards a just transition.
ADB Launches Judicial Trainings on Environmental and Climate Laws in Cambodia
On 25 September 2023, ADB launched its judicial capacity building program on environmental and climate laws, in coordination with the Cambodia Resident Mission. Prosecutors, judges, and student judges from provinces facing environmental challenges across the country convened at the Royal Academy of Justice Cambodia (RAJC) in Phnom Penh.