Interfor Conference: Forests at the Crossroads of International Law on 4-5 September 2023

The Interfor Conference: Forests at the Crossroads of International Law, organized by University of Copenhagen, invited APCEL’s Senior Research Fellow, Dr. Linda Yanti Sulistiawati to share about her research in Climate Change Related Litigation in Indonesia. She highlights that 71% of 80 criminal climate change related litigation cases in Indonesia during 2010-2020 involved forest or forestry related issues.  Linda explains that this is because of forest or forestry cases have climate change scientific evidence, often brought up by expert witness testimonies during the case proceedings and adopted by the judges in their judge’s considerations. These cases, even though they are ‘incidental’ climate change litigation cases, built a bridge for future ‘core’ climate change litigation in the country through opening discussion on the issue, deepening understanding for judges, lawyers, stakeholders, and public at large for climate change issues, creating greater visibility and transparency for the justice system, and increase social and political charges towards the courts and the government in Indonesia.

Dr. Linda Yanti Sulistiawati, APCEL’s Senior Research Fellow (center, upper row), during the hybrid event of Interfor Conference: Forests at the Crossroads of International Law, organized by University of Copenhagen, 4-5 September 2023.