Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law

About APCEL

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Introduction to APCEL

Current Projects and Programmes

Online Environmental Law Database
Capacity-Building in Environmental Legal Education in the Asia-Pacific
A Study of Environmental Law in ASEAN Countries (Research Project)
Environment Workshops

Who's Who in APCEL

Contacting APCEL


Introduction to APCEL

The Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law was established on 15 February 1996 by the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore on the initiative of the Faculty of Law and the Commission on Environmental Law (CEL) of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

APCEL is situated in the Faculty of Law and supported by the National University of Singapore. The Faculty of Law has established itself as one of the best law schools in the region, with one of the leading law libraries in the common law jurisdiction. As a premier institution, the Faculty seeks to achieve excellence in teaching and research.

APCEL was established in response to the need for capacity-building in environmental legal education and the need for promotion of awareness in environmental issues. It is currently working closely with IUCN's Commission on Environmental Law, UNEP, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank Institute, the Singapore Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other institutions in several projects and programmes.

With the encouragement and support of the various bodies of the United Nations and other organizations, APCEL hopes to achieve its objectives and emerge as a regional centre of excellence in environmental law.

For information about APCEL's recent activities in addition to that provided below, please refer to our Annual Report.

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Projects and Programmes

Online Environmental Law Database
Project Co-ordinator : Associate Professor RC Beckman

With the support of the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), APCEL has created this database for environmental law comprising international and regional instruments, and national legislation from the ASEAN member states and the region. This will also be available in the library of the Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore. This will be a regional centre for the IUCN Environmental Law Information System (ELIS), as well as a resource centre for UNEP's NETTLAP programmes.

Capacity-Building in Environmental Legal Education in the Asia-Pacific
Programme Co-ordinator : Professor KL Koh

Supported by funds from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), APCEL has collaborated with the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme and others in organising two intensive four-week training programmes, in 1997 and 1998, for law educators at the tertiary level in the Asia-Pacific region with the aim of developing and enhancing their skills in teaching environmental law. The syllabus for the Training Programme was developedAPCEL members in collaboration with leading environmental law educators. The Training Programmes were lead by Resource Persons from environmental law institutions world-wide and attended by Participants from sixteen Asia-Pacific countries.

A Study of Environmental Law in ASEAN Countries (Research Project)
Principal Investigator: Associate Professor RC Beckman

This Project, supported by a research grant from the National University of Singapore, involves research and writing conducted by APCEL academic staff on the environmental legal regimes of the ten countries in the ASEAN region. Research entails visits to each of the countries as well as the establishment of a network of environmental contacts throughout the region. The Project will result in the completion of several monographs on environmental law issues in these countries: the framework for environmental governance, laws concerning biological diversity, laws concerning pollution control, laws concerning environmental impact assesment, and the adoption and implementation of international and regional environmental conventions and other instruments. Selected legislation gathered from this study will be incorporated into this website.

Environment Workshops
Co-ordinator : Simon SC Tay

The purpose of these Workshops is to provide a multi-disciplinary focal point in Singapore for environmental issues and targets participants from business, government agencies, NGOs and academia.
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Who's Who in APCEL

Advisory Committee:

Executive Committee Members: Other Staff:  
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Contacting APCEL

Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law
Faculty of Law
National University of Singapore
13 Law Link
Singapore 117590

Telephone : (65) 8746246
Fax : (65) 8721937, (65) 7790979
E-mail : lawapcel@nus.edu.sg

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last updated 14th September 1999
Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law
Faculty of Law
National University of Singapore
© 1999