Highlights
[Commentary] ICJ’s climate ruling may spur scrutiny of S’pore carbon tax, firms’ climate action plans
APCEL was recently featured in the Straits Times’ article, 'ICJ’s climate ruling may spur scrutiny of S’pore carbon tax, firms’ climate action plans'. The Centre gave comments on how the Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice provides a 'legal foundation' for states to take ambitious climate action. In particular, the findings of the Court may influence climate policies and litigation in the region.
APCEL Conference Explores a Just Transition in Southeast Asia
APCEL convened a full-day conference on 7 August 2025 to explore a “just transition” to a low-carbon future in Southeast Asia. Experts from academia, government, civil society, business, and finance discussed how legal frameworks, governance, and investment strategies can ensure equitable, people-centered climate action. Panels highlighted local solutions, social inclusion, workforce reskilling, and finance for communities. Across discussions, speakers stressed that human well-being, equity, and dignity must guide Southeast Asia’s transition.
Asian Environmental Negotiation Competition 2025
Between 11 and 13 July 2025, the 2025 edition of the Asian Environmental Negotiation Competition 2025 (“AENC”) was held in-person on the Bukit Timah Campus. First organised in 2022, AENC is a unique tripartite negotiation competition jointly supported by Allen & Gledhill LLP (“A&G”) and the NUS Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (“APCEL”), and organised by the NUS Environmental Law Students Association.
Legal Pathways to Sustainability Transition: Innovation and Resilience’ Conference
APCEL Academic Fellow Justin Lim participated in the ‘Legal Pathways to Sustainability Transition: Innovation and Resilience’ conference hosted by the University of Hong Kong. Justin presented his paper titled ‘A Corporate Duty to Promote Sustainable Development?’ His presentation challenged how a duty to promote #SustainableDevelopment for corporations is unlikely to address the interests of all stakeholders to sustainable development projects, and demands of courts a greater expertise in a corpus of law beyond that of private law. Overall, these developments are already being witnessed today in companies and before the courts, which prompts greater reflection on the role of corporations in the just transition.
Global Climate Action in the Trump Era
On 3 September 2025, APCEL's Senior Research Fellow, Linda Yanti Sulistiawati, led an ASIL Abroad panel on “Global Climate Action in the Trump Era.” Speakers Beatriz Garcia, Elizabeth Wu, and Junice Yeo discussed COP30’s challenges, climate litigation, and media’s role in climate discourse. The session covered global power dynamics, AI impacts, carbon monetization, and Southeast Asia’s vulnerability, offering thought-provoking insights for future climate action, research, and collaboration.
