BAKU—Duro Sessa, representing the International Association of Judges (IAJ), highlighted the pivotal role of environmental law in global judicial processes during his speech at the Law and Climate International Conference in Baku.

According to Trend News Agency, Sessa detailed the IAJ’s ongoing focus on environmental law, which began at their 2014 meeting in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. This marked the start of the association’s commitment to integrating environmental concerns into their judicial deliberations and participating actively in related global discussions.

The recent ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in the KlimaSeniorinnen case was a significant topic in Sessa’s address. He pointed out that this decision has sparked a broad discussion within the legal community about the rights of associations to access justice in environmental matters. The ECHR recognized the pressing nature of climate change, ruling that existing environmental laws are inadequate to tackle its unique challenges effectively.

Sessa emphasized that the European Court granted victim status to associations defending rights against threats posed by climate change, setting a precedent for enhanced procedural rights in environmental cases. However, he also noted concerns over national courts’ failure to adequately address the complaints brought by the KlimaSeniorinnen association, leading to the ECHR’s decision to send the case back for further consideration by Swiss courts.

IAJ, established in 1953 in Salzburg, is a professional, non-political organization that connects national associations of judges with the primary aim of safeguarding judicial independence—an essential condition for upholding justice and ensuring human rights and freedoms. The organization boasts membership from 92 national associations across various continents.