Singapore Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon highlighted the importance of global judicial collaboration
The first Singapore-New Zealand judicial roundtable dug into the issue of climate change.
Singapore Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon led the discussion at the event, which was held on 7 February in Auckland. He brought up the development of a bespoke justice model for climate disputes and emphasised the value of global judicial collaboration on climate change matters.
“Today, our courts operate within a global environment that is increasingly dynamic and interconnected, and we are likely to be confronted with ever more complex and challenging legal issues that will often transcend jurisdictional boundaries”, Menon said in a press release issued by the Singapore Supreme Court.
He pointed out that some climate disputes had cross-jurisdictional elements that could not be handled by one jurisdiction. Moreover, he said that the traditional civil litigation model may not be the best way to resolve climate disputes and recommended a model of justice influenced by therapeutic justice.
“As we navigate these challenges, platforms like this roundtable offer an immensely valuable opportunity for us to learn from one another's experiences and perspectives”, Menon said.
The Courts of New Zealand hosted the roundtable, which centred on the topics of access to justice, climate change, technology and the courts, and lifecycle and wellbeing of the judge. Attendees included Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann and Singapore High Commissioner to New Zealand William Tan.
Menon was also a guest at the Pacific Judicial Conference 2025 held from 9-12 February in Auckland. He joined a moderated conversation with Court of Appeal Justice David Goddard on the topic The Future Shape of Courts.
