The conference is organized by the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Association of Judges of the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Kyrgyz Republic. It brings together judges of the Supreme Court and local courts, representatives of the Constitutional Court, the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament), government institutions, the prosecution service and legal profession, academia, civil society organizations, as well as international experts and representatives of judicial systems from other countries. 

Since 2023, the annual environmental justice conferences have served as a professional platform for exchanging judicial practice, discussing international standards, improving national legislation, and strengthening cooperation among the judiciary, government institutions, academia and expert communities, the legal profession, and civil society. In 2023, the first international conference brought together around 100 participants from Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions, while in 2024 more than 125 representatives of the judiciary, government institutions, and international organizations took part. 

The 2026 conference focuses on the role of the judiciary in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the promotion of environmental and climate justice, the protection of environmental rights, and the consistent application of environmental legislation. Particular attention is being given to how international environmental standards and modern approaches can be applied in the national judicial practice of the Kyrgyz Republic. 

“Our contribution has a clear legal dimension: independent and impartial adjudication, consistent application of environmental legislation, and effective protection of violated rights,” said Mederbek Satyev, Chairperson of the Supreme Court. 

Discussions focus on the application of international environmental standards, including the Aarhus Convention and the Paris Agreement, the development of national environmental and climate policies, and practical aspects of adjudicating environmental cases using scientific data, expert evidence, and modern technologies. Special attention is also given to the role of the courts, prosecution service, legal profession, and civil society in ensuring environmental justice, access to environmental information, and the protection of environmental rights. The conference continues efforts to strengthen the institutional foundations of environmental justice, including the development of judicial practice and the professional capacity of relevant institutions. 

“Sustainable development requires both modern legislation and strong justice institutions capable of safeguarding and enforcing environmental rights. The development of consistent judicial practice in this area is essential for protecting citizens’ environmental rights and ensuring the effective implementation of environmental legislation,” said Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative in the Kyrgyz Republic. 

The conference builds on practical efforts undertaken in recent years to strengthen the institutional framework for environmental justice. In 2025, the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic adopted its first Plenum Resolution dedicated to the adjudication of criminal cases involving offences against environmental safety and the natural environment. UNDP provided expert support to the working group of the Association of Judges in preparing the draft resolution. In 2026, cooperation continued, including through the development of professional capacities of the recently established Environmental Prosecutor’s Office. 

A dedicated session of the programme is focused on the role of civil society in ensuring access to environmental information, public monitoring, independent environmental expertise, and the protection of environmental rights of citizens and communities. 

At the conclusion of the conference, participants are expected to adopt a Final Resolution outlining practical recommendations, future joint actions, and priorities for the development of environmental and climate justice in the Kyrgyz Republic through 2030. 

The conference is held within the framework of the UNDP project “Strengthening Human Rights Protection and Equal Access to Justice in the Kyrgyz Republic,” implemented with the financial support of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. The project supports the strengthening of the rule of law, expanded access to justice, and the professional development of justice sector institutions in line with the national priorities of the Kyrgyz Republic.