In conversation with Professor Tommy Koh and Laura Clarke OBE: Using Law and Diplomacy to Address Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss

On 17 May 2023, the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (‘APCEL’), NUS hosted a dialogue between Professor Tommy Koh (Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Ms Laura Clarke OBE (former British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and CEO of international environmental law organisation, ClientEarth) at Temasek Shophouse in Singapore. The event, moderated by APCEL’s director Jolene Lin, focused on the use of law and diplomacy to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

The dialogue, followed by a Q&A, traversed a range of important and topical issues, including the potential for sustainable finance, opportunities for developing the regulatory ecosystem, and the role that different stakeholders play in mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. Both speakers shared their insights gleaned from their considerable experience in law, diplomacy and foreign affairs. Professor Tommy Koh, reflecting on his time as Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, described the role of cohering disparate interests in international fora. Meanwhile, Laura Clarke explained the distinct approach that ClientEarth is taking in the Asia-Pacific, and the role that the NGO plays outside of the courtroom. In this way, both speakers underscored the importance of forging bonds of cooperation in the region, and the necessity that the movement to decarbonisation is led by local experts and stakeholders.

In the Q&A session, the speakers responded to a range of questions from the lively audience. The speakers contemplated the intersection of geopolitics and climate change, discussing, for example, the effects of strained China–US relations on climate change discussions in international fora, and the potential for an international treaty setting minimum standards for sustainable investing. To the audience’s fascination, Laura Clarke described her experiences as the Governor of the Pitcairn Islands, with a population of only around 50 people, highlighting the importance of managing relationships in communities both large and small. As moderator Jolene Lin remarked, the Q&A could have continued for hours. With two experts in diplomacy and a keenly engaged audience including leaders from the worlds of business, government and civil society, the event proved to be a valuable contribution in the ongoing conversation about addressing climate change and biodiversity loss.

APCEL Deputy Director, Tara Maria Davenport, welcoming and introducing the speakers, Professor Tommy Koh and Ms Laura Clarke OBE

Full house for the dialogue at the Temasek Shophouse

APCEL Director, Jolene Lin, moderating the dialogue and Q&A

Professor Tommy Koh (Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs) sharing his experience

Ms Laura Clarke OBE (former British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and CEO of International Environmental Law Organisation, ClientEarth) sharing her views

Audience posing a question during Q&A session

(From left) Professor Tommy Koh (Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Ms Laura Clarke OBE (former British High Commissioner to New Zealand, and CEO of International Environmental Law Organisation, ClientEarth) and Associate Professor Jolene Lin (Director, APCEL)