Researchers' Activities

The title of the presentation is “Is LOSC ready for new technology? Carbon Capture and Storage in the Asia-Pacific Region”. She explored the extent to which obligations to protect the marine environment under LOSC provide effective regulations for managing the risks posed by CCS, focusing on the Asia-Pacific Region.

The recording of the Dialogue is available at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGDrs4tWXd0.  Pls contact Danielle Yeow d.yeow@nus.edu.sg if interested in participating in future dialogue session.

Youna Lyons from CIL Ocean Law and Policy Programme was invited to speak to the Plastics Research Network (PlaReNet) Conference, which was held 6-7 December 2022 in a hybrid format; it was co-presented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines, and Embassy of Japan in Manila.

In this Episode, Dr Miguel Dorotan (Miriam College, Philippines) spoke with Amiel Valdez (NUS Centre for International Law), and Paolo Valenzuela (NUS Asia Research Institute) on how we should address the Philippine environmental security particularly in terms of mitigating the risks from climate change and rising sea levels. The speakers reflected on the standard of ‘environmental security’, the major outcomes of the recently concluded climate conference (COP 27) in Egypt, and the importance of diplomacy in tackling all these issues.

The International Organizations Partnership is a network of international organizations working towards the development of better international rule-making. Ayelet Berman spoke about how the international system could be reformed to respond faster and with greater agility to future pandemics.

Dr Dawoon Jung was invited to present on Marine Plastic Pollution at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) Alumni Anniversary Event via Zoom.

Danielle discussed the key outcomes at COP27 and shared her reflections on the implications of these developments. Recording accessible at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhrDBw5M8S8&list=PLX-_OXNM8JVl67CUuPX-TI6RArxqqYT9q

For his PowerPoint presentation, click Beckman Powerpoint Session 1 ARF Workshop 30 Nov.

30 November 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by ILA Hellenic Branch to Speak at the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea @40

One of the key themes was marine pollution and addressing the problems of plastics and chemicals in the ocean. https://events.economist.com/world-ocean-summit-asia-pacific/downloadagenda/

24 November 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the International Order and Justice Lecture Series Organized by the Ghent University.

The dialogue brought together a select group of experts to discuss ways for states to implement their responsibilities in relation to nuclear weapons and/or radioactive materials in the maritime domain in the name of confidence building and risk reduction. The dialogue was guided by the BASIC-ICCS Nuclear Responsibilities Framework.

The panel features CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral, Malcolm Dalesa (Vanuatu’s Climate Attache in New York),  Prof Payam Akhavan (Legal Counsel to COSIS) and Assoc Prof Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh (Lead Counsel to Vanuatu on the ICJ initiative).  The dialogue was moderated by CIL’s Danielle Yeow.

Prof Beckman made a presentation in Session 6 on Rules of the Road for Non-Traditional and Cross-Cutting Domains. His presentation was on “Aviation Safety in the South China Sea”. Prof Beckman has participated in 13 of the 14 annual conferences organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam on the South China Sea. For a copy of Prof Beckman’s PowerPoint presentation, click: Beckman PowerPoint Da Nang Nov 2022 final.

In Session 5 Voices of the Next Generation, Dr Dawoon Jung presented on “Offshore Renewable Energy Operations and the Protection of the Marine Environment”. Her presentation explored the substantive regulation of environmental challenges caused by offshore renewable energy operations within the UNCLOS legal framework.

15-17 November 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Seventh International Conference on the Law of the Sea Hosted by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (MOFA)

Danielle Yeow presented on (a) the international climate change legal framework under the UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement and (b) Singapore’s progress under the UNFCCC including her national circumstances and impact of climate change in Singapore’s context.

Danielle Yeow discussed the “who, what and why” of collaboration and spoke on CIL’s collaborative capacity building initiatives with the UNFCC Secretariat and Durham University as well as upcoming collaborative research and other capacity building initiatives.

This global international symposium facilitated meaningful dialogue between COP delegates, observers and stakeholders, also keen students, with an interest in national and international law and governance related to climate change, including government representatives and leaders, leading international and domestic legal practitioners, and renowned legal experts.  https://www.climatelawgovernance.org/clgi-cop27/

10 November 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the International Symposium on ” Ocean Governance in the New Era: Current Challenges and the Law of the Sea” Organized by Global Governance Institution

They made a presentation titled Development of a Dynamic and Searchable Catalogue of Experts and Expertise in Research on Marine Plastic Pollution in ASEAN +3, which was jointly prepared by them and Cheng Ling Lim.

7-19 Nov 2022: Danielle Yeow attended the COP27 UN Climate Change meetings, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt as a virtual delegate.

At a panel on policy aspects of One Health, Ayelet Berman presented her thoughts on the role of voluntary licensing and technology transfer contracts in advancing equitable access to vaccines in developing countries.

Danielle Yeow  participated in a roundtable dialogue on 17 Nov 2022 on the theme of “Climate Change Disputes – International Arbitration perspectives and solutions”, where she discussed the progress of COP27 discussions, the scope for resolution of inter-state disputes under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, the factors that influence State Parties when engaging in climate related disputes, the ICC Task Force on Climate Change Related Disputes, and balancing climate commitments with investment treaty obligations. 

Youna made a presentation on Identifying Marine Sensitive Areas in the SCS under International Law where she emphasised the development and adoption of scientific and technical criteria under 15 instruments applicable in the South China Sea. She demonstrated their consistency and mutually-reinforcing content and application. The presentation can be downloaded here.

This virtual meeting is a process of preparing for the white paper output of an APEC OFWG project on microplastics in coastal aquaculture and food security. To contribute to this white paper, CIL researchers Youna and Yulu will collaborate and coordinate with Mei Lin, Adjunct Associate Professor Joseph Chun from Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL), NUS, and Associate Professor ‪Karina Yew-Hoong Gin, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS.

2-3 November 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the 2022 Yeosu Academy of the Law of the Sea

Danielle Yeow spoke on “The updated Singapore Green Plan 2p030 and Revised Carbon Tax Levels” (via remote participation).

28 October 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by the Permanent Mission of Australia to the United Nation to Participate in an Informal Networking Breakfast.

25 October 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Participate in an Interactive Dialogue: Welcoming a New Legal Framework on Armed Conflict and the Environment

Nivedita presented as part of Working Group 3 on nuclear safety and regulation’s panel on international trade impacts. Her presentation was entitled “Governing the Dicephalus Beast – the Tale of Transportable Nuclear Power Plant” was co-authored with Senior Fellow Denise Cheong. Drawing on the research undertaken by the CIL Team, her presentation shared initial findings on legal and institutional issues relating to the governance of floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), focusing primarily on the governance frameworks of both the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The title of her presentation is “the Law of the Sea and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS): focusing on the protection of the marine environment”.

22 October 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by the American Branch of the International Law Association to Speak at the International Law Weekend

Prof Bodansky discussed various issues on climate litigation as well as potential future trends. He was then joined by panelists, Diane Tan (Deputy Director-General, International Affairs Division, Attorney-General’s Chambers) and Albert Massman (Partner, Debrauw Blackstone Westbroek) in a moderated dialogue which provided insights from a government and industry perspective. The dialogue was co-moderated by CIL’s Danielle Yeow and Tiong Teck Wee (Co-Head Sustainability & Responsible Business Practice and Partner, Commercial & Corporate Disputes Practice of Wong Partnership)

A programme organised by the Law Society of Singapore, 19 Oct 2022.

11 October 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the IMO-WMU Joint Academic Conference Title “Protecting the Ocean – Moving Forward at 50: London Convention & Stockholm Declaration”

17 October 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by Berkeley Law to Give the Harry & Jane Scheiber Lecture in Ocean Law & Policy.

… and is part of its Climate Change Law and Ocean Law Network

Danielle Yeow was invited to attend the ASEAN Defence Meetings Meeting -Plus Chemical, Biological and Radiological Conference

Youna Lyons, Cheng Ling Lim and Yulu Liu were invited to present on the ongoing project to develop a regional research network in the region of East Asian Seas, at the the 4^th Meeting of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) Working Group on Marine Litter. The meeting was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, 10-11 October 2022 in a hybrid format and it was attended by delegations of COBSEA member states and observers.

6 Oct Danielle Yeow moderated at the seminar on The United Nations Climate Regime Thirty Years On — A Retrospective and Assessment by Professor Daniel Bodansky

4 Oct Moderated roundtable dialogue, CIL-DU-UNFCCC workshop on climate change, oceans and the global stocktake 

3 October 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at a Panel at Oslo 3^rd International Environmental Law Conference.

EPISODE SUMMARY

The law of the sea convention adopted by the UN in 1982 defines the economic and political sea boundaries critical to small island states, but the rights it guarantees are threatened by rising sea levels. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Nilufar Oral, Director of the Center for International Law at the National University of Singapore and Co-Chair of the UN’s sea level rise study group, on how vulnerable states are advocating for updated protections.

SCF

24 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral Was Invited to Deliver a Keynote Speech at IFLOS Maritime Talks 2022.

The online conference was organized by the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and the Faculty of Law of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) of Indonesia and held via zoom.

The title of the conference was “International Symposium on Ocean Governance, Environmental Rights and Sustainable Development in the Anthropocene”.

21 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral Was Invited to Participate in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) Informal, Focused Consultation on Legal Matters

Yulu Liu and Cheng Ling Lim and Youna Lyons from CIL Ocean Law and Policy Programme presented at the 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC), held in Busan South Korea, 18-23 September 2022. 

Danielle Yeow spoke at the ICRC-CIL-SRC 1st Singapore International Humanitarian Law Roundtable on Technologies of Warfare and International Humanitarian Law (biological weapons)

12-16 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral Was Invited to Speak at the ITLOS Workshop for Legal Advisors in Hamburg

8 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Asia-Pacific Online Session on International Humanitarian Law Session – ARMED CONFLICT AND THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross

It was held over two days on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 September as an online meeting. Day Two of the Seminar was moderated by Gillian Grant, the Chair of the Legal Committee of the IMO. Prof Beckman spoke in Panel 5: Operating MASS: Legal issues related to communication and enforcement.

7 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral and Prof Patricia Galvao Teles were Invited to Give a Presentation on the Work of the International Law Commission to Participants at the Centre for Studies & Research Program at The Hague Academy.

The Programme, co-organised by the Republic of Singapore Navy and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, introduced various aspects of maritime security for maritime practitioners. The course’s participants are navies, coastguards, and other maritime practitioners from around the world. Prof. Beckman delivered a lecture about the international law of the sea while Dr. Dang presented about Vietnam’s measures against IUU Fishing.

Youna Lyons was invited to observe the 49th GESAMP annual session held at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) headquarters in London, United Kingdom, from 5 to 9 September 2022, on the delegation of Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea Advisory Committee (ACOPS).

Yulu Liu also attended the workshop of GESAMP WG 40 (as a representative of ACOPS) to develop a risk assessment framework for land and sea-based sources of marine litter and microplastics, which was held in Busan, South Korea from 26-30 October.

The Workshop introduced the results of the Common Fisheries Resources Analysis of skipjack tuna in the South China Sea, a joint research initiative implemented by scientists from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam with support from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

Independent Global Stocktake

1 Sept 2022 | Speaker, “Path to 1.5 degrees – Implementation and Implication”, AGC Academy to Legal Branch officers

Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport was invited to participate (online) in the Expert Group Meeting on Enforcement Related Issues in Deep Sea Mining organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA)

Convened by Manila Observatory in partnership with Samdhana Institute and Chiang Mai University on 22-25 August 2022

The Fellowship, organised by the Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, is the flagship programme under the UN-Singapore Cyber Programme. 

The Workshop was organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.

Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport was invited to give a lecture on ‘Cyberspace and International Law’ at the 2022 inaugural UN-Singapore Cyber Fellowship Programme from 1 – 6 August 2022 in Singapore.

CIL Research Associate Brian Chang and former Research Assistant Tensin Studer presented a conference paper on “What Investor-State Mediation Can Learn from UNCLOS Conciliation: Lessons from the Timor Sea Conciliation” at the Junior Scholars Workshop of the Asian Society for International Law (AsianSIL)’s 2022 Regional Conference in Nepal, co-organised by CIL’s Teaching and Researching International Law in Asia (TRILA) team. 

The Workshop is a part of this year’s Nepal Regional Conference by Asian Society of International Law.

The Conference was organised by the United Nations Environment Programme, Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security – University of Wollongong, Centre for International Law of Sea and Maritime Law – National University of Viet Nam in Hanoi.

Dr Oral was invited to present a paper at a conference on Sea Level Rise and International Law: Assessing its Impacts on the Americas during the 73rd Session of the International Law Commission (ILC).

Prof Beckman was one of 10 speakers in Session III. In his presentation he argued the COC should contain a “non-prejudice” clause similar to that in Article VII of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. He argued that such a clause would enable the parties to cooperate on matters of common interest without being seen as either acquiescing to or recognizing the legitimacy of the sovereignty and maritime claims of other States or as renouncing or giving up their own sovereignty claims and maritime claims in the South China Sea.

The global community has failed to stop biodiversity loss, and people do not realise the impact of this persistent trend, warns veteran diplomat, law professor and environmentalist Tommy Koh.

Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport gave an online lecture on 19 July 2022 submarine cables and pipelines at the Kadir Has International Law of the Sea Academy held in Turkey from 18 to 29 July 2022.

The workshop is part of one of Ateneo Law School’s longest traditions, i.e., the Introduction to Law (ITL) programme for incoming law students.

Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport presented at the 2022 IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium on ‘Common Heritage of Humankind (CHH) as a basis for Environmental Governance’ on 13 July 2022.

The Faculty at the Rhodes Academy is comprised of leading experts in the law of the sea, including current and past judges from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The Faculty in 2022 included two current ITLOS judges, Albert Hoffman of South Africa, the current President and Judge Tomas Heider of Iceland as well as two former Presidents of ITLOS – Rudiger Wolfrum of Germany and Vladimir Golitsyn of the Russian Federation.

The title of Dr Nilufer’s lecture is “Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: The Activities of the ILC”

The title of his presentation was “Reduction of Emissions from Commercial Shipping: The Global Context and Singapore Initiatives”.

At a panel on “Global Law on Pandemic Prevention”, Ayelet Berman spoke on “The international Law and Governance of One Health”. She presented the preliminary findings of the work of the International Law Association Steering Committee on One Health, of which she is a member.

Jiang Zhifeng, a double degree law student at Yale-NUS College and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have been awarded the Koh Han Kok Prize. Best student in Public International Law.

Dr Nilufer Oral spoke at the session on Climate Change and Ocean Governance focusing on “Challenges of Sea Level Rise for the Law of the Sea and the Work of the International Law Commission”

Dawoon made a presentation on “New Technology and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS): How Does UNCLOS Evolve to Regulate the Impacts of MASS on the Marine Environment?”.

She made a presentation on ‘Enforcement of Coastal State Jurisdiction over Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone,’ and provided a case study on Indonesia.

Dr Oral moderated at the session: International Law and Current Challenges: Sea-Level Rise on 22 June 2022. She was also one of the panellists at the session: Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction on 23 June 2022.

Youna, Cheng Ling and Yulu’s presentation was on intervention policies and regulations on single-use plastics restrictions in the ASEAN +3 region and their effectiveness.

Dr Nilufer Oral was one of the panellists at the session “Bringing Climate Change Before International Courts and Tribunals”

Participants (from public and private sector and academia/think tanks) had a robust and engaging discussion on the cyber and hybrid threat lessons from the Russia/Ukraine crisis, and the misinformation threat landscape in the South East Asian region.

Prof Beckman spoke on the role of the dispute settlement system in clarifying ambiguous provisions and responding to technological developments.

Dr Oral spoke at Side Event 7: The Role of Global Networks Of Legal Experts And Practitioners To Assist In Designing And Implementing Legal Responses To Address The Triple Planetary Crisis.

The dialogue contributes to the Sea East Asia region’s contribution to promoting climate – ocean dialogues and follows up on PEMSEA’s country partners’ reaffirmation of their commitment to the blue economy and support global efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement with mitigation and adaptation as crucial underlying principles in accelerating the blue economy.

Dr Oral spoke at the session on “Rising Sea Levels: The Role of International Organizations”.

Shen presented her draft chapter on “The Human Rights System of Southeast Asia” for the Oxford Handbook on Comparative Human Rights Law.

The roundtable was titled Pens to Practice: A Regional Exchange on Strengthening the Academic Circles’ Impact on IHL Implementation.

Prof Beckman made a presentation in Session 3, Navigational Regimes and Enforcement of Coastal State Jurisdiction.

The title of her presentation was “A Quest for Meaning: Interpretation of Article 73(3) of UNCLOS by Indonesian Supreme Court”

She spoke in Session 6 on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing alongside Prof. Natalie Klein (University of New South Wales) and Ms. Francesca Caonero (Global Maritime Crime Programme, Latin America and the Caribbean, U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime).

Dr Nilufer Oral spoke at the session on “International Marine Environment Pollution as Security Threat/Sea Level Rise and International Security Implication”

The fluidity and complexity of modern-day maritime security challenges require a deep understanding of the law of the sea, maritime law, as well as of national policies

and regulations before responding to them. The newly emerging challenges and transformed threats which include, maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and use of unmanned vessels, are largely unregulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea1982, which has led to the adoption of various international conventions and protocols.

The IMLI Course on International Maritime Security Law covers the various critical maritime security threats to the international rule of law at sea and the freedom of navigation. The Course addresses in detail the gravity of these threats and the existing international laws and State practices deterring the same.

The Course focuses on the current legal developments ensuring the safe navigation of ships, protection of offshore installations and coasts of maritime States. It also covers the contribution of international organizations, especially IMO, and the role of regional cooperation in overcoming such threats. The Course looks into the special status of warships and examine the juris prudential contribution of international courts and tribunals.

Dr Nilufer Oral spoke on the topic on “International Marine Environment Pollution as Security Threat/Sea Level Rise and International Security Implication”

The competition took place virtually from 10 to 14 May 2022. They evaluated and scored the oral pleadings of the participants during the International Rounds.

The International Conference on Environmental Law, Governance, and Sustainable Development provides a timely opportunity to critically investigate practical, philosophical, and methodological approaches for addressing longstanding barriers to the effective design and implementation of environmental law.

This Conference brings together governments, business leaders, environmental educators, academics, and practitioners to exchange knowledge experience and learn from each other on how to strengthen the implementation and application of the international environmental rule of law in Africa and beyond.

The theme for this year’s conference was “Climate Change, Energy Transition and Looking Beyond the Earth’s Future: The Role of Stakeholders in Sustaining International Environmental Rule of Law”. Dr Nilufer Oral was one of the keynote speakers for the conference.

International Law Academy British Branch Spring Conference 2022 On 28-29 April 2022

The conference will consider legal problems likely to emerge from ongoing changes resulting from climate change and its consequences, as set out in the 2021 IPCC report.

Panels comprising a mixture of invited and selected speakers will be convened on the following themes:

• Impact of rising sea levels on migration and statehood
• Climate change and international trade and investment law

• Human rights and climate change
• Litigating on climate change.

Dr Nilufer Oral spoke on the work of the International Law Commission on sea level rise in relation to international Law.

You can read more about the conference and the programme at the link: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/events/20220428-international-law-association-british-branch-spring-conference-2022

Head of Nuclear Law and Policy, Denise Cheong was invited to participate in the first-ever “International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate” organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 25 to 29 April 2022 in Vienna, Austria. She presented as part of the roundtable titled “The Role of Nuclear Law in the Broader Context of Other Areas of Law”.

Drawing on her research experience, Denise’s presentation focused on how nuclear law could be conceptualised and what implications this may have on current approaches to higher education research and the requisite learning and skills for developing capacity within the research domain. Her presentation began with observations on the state of play within the research domain then focused on nuclear law at the international level, reflecting on its role, nature and ambit, given the realities of (i) “boundary interactions” with other branches of international law, and (ii) institutional “law making”.

Key takeaways from her presentation included: First, the need for a holistic conceptualisation of nuclear law in order to promote its objective of providing a legal framework that would adequately protect individuals, property and the environment. This should include nuclear law provisions in other areas of law as well as both hard and soft law. Second, nuclear law researchers, as part of broader research community, have an important part to play in helping to “discover” the breadth & depth of nuclear law and more research collaboration is needed to advance the objective of nuclear law, in light of the increasingly complex and multidisciplinary issues that nuclear law is being called on to address. Third, new learning, skills and support are needed to help nuclear law research fulfil this role effectively.

Further details of this conference are available on the IAEA’s conference page and programme.