As part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen the rule of law and advance Climate and Environmental Justice (CEJ) in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the JuSTICE Project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), convened a high-level Regional Conference on Climate and Environmental Justice from 30 to 31 October 2025 in Vientiane.
Organised in close collaboration with the People’s Supreme Court (PSC) and the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor (OSPP), the two-day conference brought together senior judges, prosecutors, and environmental law practitioners from Lao PDR and across the region. The event served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, capacity enhancement, and dialogue aimed at strengthening judicial cooperation and promoting the effective enforcement of environmental protection laws.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in a range of plenary sessions, case studies, and intensive discussions addressing key aspects of climate and environmental justice. The sessions covered international and regional frameworks for environmental law and mechanisms for cross-border cooperation, judicial approaches to environmental litigation and remedies, prosecution of environmental crimes involving forests, biodiversity, climate-related offences, and beyond. Discussions also explored access to justice and inclusion, with particular emphasis on gender-responsive approaches and the use of scientific evidence in judicial proceedings.
The event featured distinguished experts and practitioners from regional and international institutions who shared valuable insights into global trends, comparative legal practices, and regional cooperation mechanisms. Participants exchanged practical experiences from national and regional contexts, highlighting examples of environmental litigation, prosecution challenges, and cross-border environmental governance. These exchanges underscored the importance of regional collaboration and harmonised judicial practices in addressing complex environmental challenges that transcend national boundaries.
Building on the outcomes of the discussions, the conference reaffirmed the commitment of participating institutions to strengthen regional cooperation and advance Climate and Environmental Justice. This initiative, under Component 4 of the JuSTICE Project, supports capacity building, awareness-raising, and institutional strengthening, contributing to more effective environmental law enforcement, equitable access to justice, and the promotion of sustainable development and the rule of law in Lao PDR.
