From 19 to 21 August 2024, the 10th Asia Pacific Mediation Forum was held in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The objective of the forum was to discuss the resolution of climate and environmental disputes, bringing together over 350 participants from 23 countries, including State Ministers, Chief Justices, judges, magistrates, scholars, diplomats, and experts. Within the theme of “Regional Challenges, Regional Solutions, Global Outcomes: Using Mediation to Resolve Environment and Climate Change Disputes”, some common messages and recommendations arose from multiple sessions of the conference. Key outcomes from the forum included recommendations for developing appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms, emphasizing the protection of the rights of vulnerable populations, integrating traditional knowledge in dispute resolution, and the need for sustained capacity building in environmental law. The discussions reinforced the necessity of establishing a Pacific Environmental Dispute Resolution Centre to enhance regional cooperation and address environmental issues effectively.
Organizers: The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Centre for Judicial Excellence
Recording Link: https://youtu.be/hFnVykbEsBM?si=Y05NGQwVNB5OuA7t
(Photo: Asia Pacific Mediation Forum (APMF) website https://www.asiapacificmediationforum.org/)