Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) Hanoi

Dr. Linda Yanti Sulistiawati, Senior Research Fellow at APCEL, was invited as a moderator at the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) Conference held in Hanoi on 9 October 2025. She moderated a high-level panel on international environmental law, which brought together distinguished legal scholars and practitioners to discuss the evolving landscape of climate-related obligations under international law. The panel featured Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh, a Lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and PhD candidate in international law of the sea; Edwin Vanderbruggen, a seasoned international legal adviser from the Netherlands; and Kien Tai Bui, a legal official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam. Dr. Sulistiawati guided the discussion with incisive questions and thematic framing, fostering a dynamic exchange on the implications of recent advisory opinions by the ICJ and ITLOS.

The panel explored the legal significance of the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on States’ obligations in respect of climate change, with Hoang Thi Ngoc Anh analyzing its interpretation of treaties and customary international law. Edwin Vanderbruggen examined the contributions of selected Asian states to the ICJ proceedings, highlighting regional divergences in legal approaches to climate obligations. Kien Tai Bui, alongside Dao Thi Ha Trang, focused on the ITLOS Advisory Opinion’s implications for ASEAN countries, particularly in relation to the Paris Agreement and UNCLOS. The QnA session illuminated the complex interplay between international legal instruments and regional perspectives, offering critical insights into how Asia-Pacific nations might navigate their climate commitments in light of emerging jurisprudence.

Dr. Sulistiawati, third from the right, moderating the International Enviornmental Law panel during AsianSIL (Asian Society of International Law) in Hanoi 9 October 2025.