Climate Justice Before the Courts: Transformative Jurisprudence from Climate Vulnerable Countries

The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice is delighted to host the Honorable Mr. Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Supreme Court of Pakistan, in conversation with Professor César Rodríguez Garavito, Chair of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice.

Countries like Pakistan are at the forefront of the climate emergency, facing a wide range of extreme weather events, from unprecedented flooding to heat waves.

Around the globe, courts are increasingly recognizing that the climate emergency is reshaping both our physical world and legal landscapes. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has emerged as a key actor in this regard. With a strong tradition of public interest jurisprudence, the Court has issued landmark rulings on climate justice, environmental protection, and government accountability. In doing so, it has called for the reinterpretation of fundamental rights—such as the rights to life, liberty, and dignity— to encompass environmental protection and embrace an ecocentric approach.

This conversation with Honorable Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court of Pakistan will delve into the judiciary’s evolving role in climate jurisprudence. What are the latest legal developments in Pakistani and global courts? How do courts define the concept of climate justice, and in what ways have traditional legal concepts been adapted to accommodate it? How do the obligations arising from such interpretations apply to vulnerable countries? What are the challenges in effectively implementing judicial rulings and making climate justice a reality?

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah

A distinguished Pakistani jurist who is serving as a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr. Syed Mansoor Ali Shah formerly served as the 45th Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, and is expected to take oath as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on October 26, 2024. 

Since joining the court, Justice Shah has authored decisions on constitutional law, human rights, and environmental sustainability. He has also led key innovations in judicial education and the revamping of the Punjab Judicial Academy.

Event Details

• September, 3, 2024 | 4:00 - 5:30pm EST | Followed by a reception
• Wilf Hall 5th Floor Seminar Room, 139 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012

If you are interested in attending, please fill out this form.  

For any inquiries, please contact chrgj@nyu.edu.