WYCJ and Moksha Foundation host ‘Public Interest Litigation for Climate Action’ in Nepal

The Student Welfare Council of Kathmandu University School of Law, in collaboration with Transnational Law and Policy Review (TLPR), organized a Panel Discussion on "Public Interest Litigation for Climate Action" along with the launch of TLPR's inaugural journal. The event, held at the Patan High Court in Lalitpur, Nepal, on November 24, 2023, was conducted in partnership with the World's Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ) and Moksha Foundation.

Honourable Justice Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai graced the occasion as the Chief Guest for the program and the panel consisted of Justice Mahesh Sharma Poudel (Acting Chief Judge of High Court Patan), Assistant Professor Rupa Basnet (Advocate and Assistant Professor at Nepal Law Campus), and Professor Katak Malla (Jurist, LLD in International Law). The discussion encompassed the translation of climate activism into national law through Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the potential for compensation and damages for climate-vulnerable nations, and the role of grassroots movements and youth political engagement in achieving climate justice. In his keynote speech, Honorable Justice Dr. Ananda Mohan Bhattarai urged participants to initiate movements that reduce the burden on the Nepalese judiciary. He also praised role of public interest litigants who bring important issues of environment to the court. 

During the interactive session, participants raised questions on principles and practicalities related to ecocide, the global resource divide in the context of international geopolitics, climate migration, and the significance of scholarly writings as a form of climate activism.

The TLPR journal was formally launched by the Chief Guest and the panellists, and guests were presented with plants as tokens of appreciation from the organizers. The event showcased a commitment to addressing global issues through a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together legal, academic, and activist perspectives to foster meaningful discussions on climate action and justice.