Judicial Meeting on Climate: S Asian judiciary playing vital role
Says president; chief justice sees lack of effective enforcement of laws
ceremony of the South Asia Judicial Conference on Environment and Climate Change jointly organised by Supreme Court of Bangladesh and Asian Development Bank (ADB) at Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden Hotel in the capital.
In line with the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, the world leaders have made their commitment to protect the environment and the earth from the adverse impact of climate change, he said, adding, "Time has come to materialise the decisions and turn commitments into actions."
He said the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has consistently endeavored to render meaningful justice to the cases involving conservation and protection of the environment by using tools of innovating and creative interpretation of constitutional provisions.
"The Bangladesh judiciary is highly sensitised to the importance and necessity of conservation of the environment and accordingly, playing an important and proactive role in combating activities detrimental to ecological balance and conservation of the environment."
The president highlighted initiatives taken by the Bangladesh government for addressing climate change risks, adding "Bangladesh is one of the first countries that signed and ratified the Paris Agreement and also the first country to set up Climate Change Fund of US$ 400 million from its own resources."
Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, who presided over the programme, blamed the lack of effective enforcement of relevant laws for environmental degradation, reports our correspondent.
“The main cause of environmental degradation is lack of effective enforcement of various laws relating to human rights, preservation and protection of forest, rivers, canals, water reservoirs, haors etc,” he said.
He also said, “It is necessary to emphasise that problem of environmental degradation can be tackled only by concerted efforts by every person, organisation and institution and by stringent enforcement of the laws”.
“We have to educate, spread awareness, involve and motivate every person in the country to conserve the local flora and fauna, soil and water resources and all other gifts of God which are national properties.”
The CJ highlighted some directives of the Supreme Court on environment protection, saying the SC is playing a very proactive role against the degradation of the environment to make it friendly for the people.
“It has been playing a very impressive role for its judicial activism either by suo motu or on the basis of PIL [public interest litigation] and progressive interpretation of some constitutional and other legal provisions.”
The judiciary applied internationally-recognised environmental concepts in various landmark judgements regarding environment and climate change issues, he said.
He said in compliance with a SC directive, the government enacted the National River Saving Commission Act, 2013 for establishing a commission for saving the rivers which are drying up.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, Deputy Minister for Environment and Forest Abdullah Al Islam Jacob and General Counsel of ADB Christopher Stephens also addressed the programme yesterday.