Effective laws, policies key to climate action, judges advise
By Samuel Kariuki, August 2, 2025African judges serving in the environment, land and labour courts have renewed their climate change advocacy while focusing on the delivery of justice and green jobs creation.
Under their organisation, the Pan-African Association of Judges of Environment, Land and Labour (PAAJELLA), they stated that climate change presents a complex in the continent, with countries like Kenya experiencing extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and the risk of large-scale displacement.
The outcome, the association stated, has led to an increase in unemployment and deepening social inequality.
According to PAAJELLA, the transition to a low-carbon economy could offer a valuable opportunity to create green and dignified jobs, especially in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management.
“To fully realise this potential, the transition must be guided by inclusive and equitable policies that safeguard against economic disruption,” PAAJELLA President Justice Jacqueline Mogeni said.
Mogeni insisted that the shift to a low-carbon economy presents a unique opportunity to foster green and decent jobs in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and waste management, though.
“This transition is a development priority and a constitutional duty under Article 42, which affirms the right to a clean and healthy environment. It must be navigated with inclusive and fair policies to prevent economic disruption,” she said.
According to the judge, effective judicial frameworks and informed community participation are key to environmental, land, labour, just wages and climate-related concerns.
Sustainable development
“PAAJELLA members play a crucial role in shaping legal frameworks for sustainable development and must be empowered to uphold climate justice and support a just, equitable transformation,” she said.
“In Kenya, advancing the global climate agenda requires clear legal frameworks that support green job creation while safeguarding the rights to work, land, and a clean environment; thus, judges are vital in resolving disputes and guiding policy across environmental, labour, and land issues amid growing climate-related litigation.”
Her association, which was established in 2022, provides a space for knowledge-sharing, learning, collaboration, and the exchange of information related to environmental conservation, climate change, land governance, and labour rights.
It is a continental platform uniting African judges—both serving and retired—who share a commitment to climate justice and the protection of socioeconomic and cultural rights.
Mogeni said that the primary goal of the association is to strengthen judicial and community responses to the multifaceted challenges that affect ecosystems and livelihoods in Africa and globally.
“The association is dedicated to capacity building for its members and other stakeholders, offering avenues for engagement in global conversations on climate change, governance, and justice,” she added.
Decent work
The association maintained that decent work is a fundamental human right, but climate change threatens this right, undermining job security and livelihoods worldwide.
“A just transition is essential: maximising ecological benefits while minimising social and economic disruption. Therefore, success depends on integrated policies and inclusive, transparent processes that foster strong social consensus,” Mogeni clarified.
Other issues that the association raised were the existence of gender disparities that persist in green sectors and the exclusion of skilled workers, innovative enterprises, and resilient communities in driving systemic transformation.