Lawyers have been urged to take a leading role in addressing legal gaps related to climate change, as the global environmental crisis continues to intensify.

The call was made during a special public lecture on Climate Justice on December 16, 2025, which brought together ILPD students and staff to reflect on the critical role lawyers play in protecting the environment and ensuring that legal frameworks effectively respond to climate-related challenges.

The lecture was delivered by Michael D. Wilson, who highlighted the rapid increase in climate litigation across the world. By the end of 2022, climate-related cases had been recorded in 65 countries, totaling 2,180 lawsuits a 50% increase in just five years.

Justice Wilson emphasized that strong legal frameworks and political will are essential to confronting the climate crisis, calling on future lawyers to embrace their professional responsibility.

“As lawyers, you must understand that protecting the environment is part of your duty, because your role is needed to safeguard the future of our children and generations to come,” he said.

Wilson also acknowledged the professional risks faced by lawyers and judges who rule in favor of environmental protection, particularly when their decisions conflict with government or commercial interests.

“If you decide that citizens have the right to live in a healthy environment, while government or business interests disagree, you may lose your job. A true judge must always be prepared for that, because the law must prevail,” he noted.

ILPD students welcomed the lecture and described it as eye-opening. Eric Muhozi said the discussion helped him understand how lawyers can support government efforts while strengthening environmental laws.

He stated, “We learned a great deal about the role lawyers can play in protecting the environment and the importance of working with authorities to develop laws that complement existing ones for effective implementation, because when the environment is damaged, human life is also harmed.”

According to Igihe.com, the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) has announced intensified efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through eight key pillars: Water management, Hygiene and sanitation, Agriculture, Transport, Land and forests, Urban planning, Mining and Health.

To fully implement these measures, Rwanda requires an estimated $12 billion in funding $7 billion between 2025 and 2030, and an additional $5 billion from 2030 to 2035.