The Conference on Climate Change and International Trade Law jointly organized by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Academy of the Department of Justice, took place today (March 14) in Hong Kong, attracting approximately 600 registrants from 70 jurisdictions worldwide.
The Secretary for Justice, Paul Lam, stated on social media that participants included policymakers, legal experts, financial institutions, representatives from academia, and businesses, demonstrating the international community's high level of concern for the issue.
This conference also marks Hong Kong's active role in promoting climate action and the development of international trade law and is the first collaboration between the Academy and international legal organizations since its establishment.
Lam pointed out that climate change poses business challenges, as extreme weather events could disrupt the normal operations of transportation, factories, and infrastructure, leading to supply chain disruptions and a chain reaction of rising global production costs, which also generates related legal disputes. The conference explores how international trade law can effectively assist in achieving the climate action goals of the international community, the scope and value of relevant legal coordination, and the needs of legislators, policymakers, courts, and dispute resolution bodies for international guidelines.
Lam mentioned that the Department of Justice has collaborated with UNCITRAL in various ways in recent years, including jointly organizing seminars on the application of mediation in investor-state dispute resolution and establishing a "Inclusive Global Legal Innovation Platform on Online Dispute Resolution" to explore topics such as online dispute resolution. He noted that the successful holding of this conference in Hong Kong strengthens the long-standing foundation of cooperation between UNCITRAL and the Department of Justice, providing more possibilities for practical exchanges in the international legal and green finance sectors. The department will continue to work collaboratively with various parties, deepening international exchanges and cooperation to contribute greater efforts toward global sustainable development.
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