Environmental Courts and Tribunals – 2021: A Guide for Policy Makers

This United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) guidance recently released - an update of the 2016 report - is designed to provide an overview for policymakers, judges, academics, and stakeholders who are interested in improving the adjudication of environmental disputes. It identifies features of ECTs - Environmental Courts and Tribunals - , describes good practices and provides road maps for institution-building to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 16 “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions”. SDG16 seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. It takes into account a country’s unique ecological, historical, legal, judicial, religious, economic, cultural, and political conditions. Click to access the UNEP 2021 ECT Guide.