The second and final day of the Environmental Law Conference opened today with dynamic discussions on the practical application of environmental justice, focusing on how progressive legal norms can be translated into real benefits for communities.
Proceedings began with a recap of Day 1, led by Ivy Chimedza, setting the tone for a series of high-level presentations and debates on key environmental governance issues.
The first presentation came from Kambili Chilufya, an Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist with IUCN, who challenged delegates to consider “how to translate the progressive constitutional and international norms on environmental justice into tangible actions for communities on the ground.”
Chilufya underscored the importance of Environmental and Social Management Systems in advancing social justice within conservation and development projects.
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He outlined four thematic risk areas where ESMS play a pivotal role: law enforcement operations, access restrictions, human–wildlife conflict and co-existence, and physical infrastructure development.
“These areas help institutions anticipate risks, protect communities, and ensure environmental justice is upheld in practice,” he said.
A panel discussion that followed widened the lens, with Emily Kinama, head of strategic litigation at Kenya’s Katiba Institute, expressing concern over the marginalisation of environmental offences in court systems dominated by land disputes.
Kinama noted that “90% of cases in the Environmental Law Courts are still on land issues,” a trend she said creates delays and hinders adequate attention to urgent environmental violations. She argued for establishing and strengthening specialised divisions within Environmental Law Courts to ease backlogs and restore balance.
The conference — attended by government officials, civil society leaders, academics and international organisations — continues to unpack challenges and chart pathways for strengthening environmental justice across the region.
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