The recognition of the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by the UN General Assembly in 2022 marked a milestone for global environmental governance. The International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJ AO) on climate change also provides further guidance on the scope and obligations of states under
international law, with implications for environmental rights across regions.
In Southeast Asia, the ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment is anticipated to be signed by ASEAN leaders at the October 2025 Summit in Kuala Lumpur. The Declaration builds on years of work by ASEAN Member States, supported by a network of civil society organizations (CSOs) and
experts. Its adoption presents both opportunities and challenges for strengthening rights-based environmental governance and advancing implementation at the national and regional levels.
Against this backdrop, organizers will convene a panel in Geneva to provide a platform for dialogue on advancing environmental rights in ASEAN within the context of global legal and policy developments. The Forum will explore the future of environmental rights following the forthcoming ICJ Advisory Opinion, with particular attention to ASEAN’s progress and the draft ASEAN Declaration on the Right to a Safe, Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Environment.
Objectives: The following are the objectives of the panel:
- Examine ASEAN perspectives and the significance of the forthcoming ASEAN Declaration on environmental rights.
- Promote an exchange of ideas on the future of environmental rights following the ICJ AO.
- Foster collaboration and mutual learning between ASEAN CSOs, regional partners, and global initiatives.
- Identify pathways for implementation of environmental rights in ASEAN, with attention to youth, civil society, and cross-regional cooperation
