Ecological conflicts: judicial and non-judicial responses in Central Asia

The ERC Curiae Virides Project hosted by the Brussels School of Governcnace (BSoG) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and member of the House of Sustainable Transitions (HOST),  together with the Maqsut Narikbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan and  the United Nations University- Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) are organising this webinar on transnational ecological conflicts in Central Asia. 

Transnational ecological conflicts can result from cross-border environmental impacts such as biodiversity loss and water pollution, but can also arise from the localized activities of transnational actors (e.g a multinational corporation, an NGO operating transnationally or an international organization etc…). In Central Asia, there are ecological conflicts which are being litigated at the international and national level. For instance, in International Mining Company Invest v Kyrgyz Republic a mining company is seeking compensation for the country’s ban on uranium mining. In Kazakhstan, national tribunals have been involved in various disputes whereby operators face fines due to the violation of environmental law. Consequently, there is a real need to understand Central Asia’s transboundary ecological issues and how judicial or quasi-judicial mechanisms are (not) being used.

We are planning to organize a webinar on the 30th of May, from 10h to 12h (Brussels Time), 13h to 15h (Astana Time) to discuss  ecological disputes arising from transboundary environmental harm and/or local environmental harm involving transnational actors. 

Programme

Chair

Ikboljon Qoraboyev, Professor of International Relations at the International School of Economics of Maqsut Narikbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan and Associate Research Fellow at UNU-CRIS

Presentations:

João Teixeira de Freitas, PhD Researcher, ERC Curiae Virides project, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

• How Transnational Ecological Conflicts turn into Lawsuits: Judicial and Non-Judicial Responses in Central Asia

Ludmila Cieszkowsky, PhD Researcher, ERC Curiae Virides project, Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

• Judicial and Non-Judicial Remedies for Transnational Ecological Harms

Assel Iskakova, Manager of legal services at Fortune Partners LLP, doctoral candidate at MNU.

• Environmental Litigation in Kazakhstan: Status Quo in Central Asia

Jessica Neafie, Assistant Professor at Nazarbayev University.

• A Critical Analysis of the Legal Regulations of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the Prevention and Elimination of Oil Spills

Aisha Turebayeva. Director of Strategy & International Portfolio Management Department, JSC NC “KazMunayGas

• Corporate Social Responsibility for the Petroleum Sector in Kazakhstan

Yerlan Galiyev, Director JSC National Geological Service and Tileuberdi Kanseit, Susbsoil Use Department at the Ministry of Industry and Construction 

• Aspects of Contract Activities for Solid Minerals in the context of Environmental Issues

Picture: Altay mountains, Kazakhstan by Dmitry A. Mottl, CC BY-SA 3.0