Emirates News Agency – Abu Dhabi Justice Department discusses legal framework to protect environment, combat climate change

ABU DHABI, 2nd May, 2023 (WAM) — The Abu Dhabi Ministry of Justice, represented by the Abu Dhabi Judicial Academy, has organized a series of seminars and workshops on the national and international human rights legal framework to protect and sustaining the environment and addressing the risks of climate change, in line with the strategic direction of the United Arab Emirates for the Year of Sustainable Development 2023, and taking into account the ongoing preparations for the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28).
Counselor Youssef Saeed Al Abri, Deputy Minister of Justice of Abu Dhabi, underscored the Ministry of Justice’s interest in supporting the government’s sustainable development goals and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Executive Vice President, Prime Minister , Minister of the Presidential Courts and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Justice Department (ADJD), continued to support the creation of groundbreaking legal and judicial systems that effectively address challenges and provide innovative solutions.
Counselor Youssef Al-Abri explained that these seminars and workshops are important opportunities to highlight the role of human rights in protecting the environment and addressing climate change, emphasizing that human rights-based climate action is fundamental to ensuring a sustainable future, especially as the UAE Measures taken to address environmental and climate challenges, and implementation of international commitments in this regard.
In addition, participants at workshops held in March and April 2023 discussed the country’s efforts to promote human rights in the area of ​​climate action, the role of individuals, the state and the judiciary in addressing climate change and its implications, and The critical role of civil society in spreading awareness of the importance of protecting against climate change. environment, realize sustainable green development, and protect people’s right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
Speakers discussed the important role that judicial authorities can play in upholding justice and protecting rights in this area, especially given that climate change has become a serious threat, especially in the worst-affected regions suffering from severe droughts, floods and storm.

They emphasized the need to effectively protect human rights in these areas and provide the necessary resources to underpin the sustainability of development.
Speakers also highlighted the legal, judicial and administrative framework for institutional environmental auditing to monitor phenomena and assess the impact of protecting, developing and maintaining project ecosystems, and to protect biodiversity as a tool for environmental protection in accordance with relevant legislation and national and international jurisprudence ruling.