Environmental Jurists Association
環境法律人協會
The purpose of our association is to unite legal professionals who are concerned with environmental protection laws and related issues. We aim to engage in discussions and take legal actions on matters related to environmental public interest. Additionally, we seek to establish networks and interactive platforms for discussion with other environmental organizations or individuals. Through our involvement in community and national environmental initiatives and international cooperation, we strive to ensure the sustainable balance of natural ecology, economy, and cultural environment, in line with intergenerational fairness and justice.
In April 2016, the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation, a subsidiary of the Formosa Plastics Group, caused a massive marine pollution incident in the waters near Ha Tinh Province, Vietnam, due to the discharge of toxic wastewater. This incident led to the deaths of a large number of fish, severely impacting the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people and sparking a series of unseen human rights abuses. The news of the marine pollution incident immediately triggered widespread discontent among the Vietnamese people. Local residents and other supporters took to the streets in peaceful protests, demanding that Formosa Ha Tinh Steel disclose information about the pollutants and environmental testing results and take responsibility for the pollution incident. However, the protests were met with strong suppression by the Vietnamese government. Hundreds of journalists and human rights defenders were assaulted, detained, and even sentenced, leading to intense clashes between law enforcement and protesters.
On February 3, 2021, the Environmental Jurists Association (EJA) and Greenpeace jointly filed a climate lawsuit challenging the "Regulations on the Installation of Renewable Energy Generation Facilities for Electricity Users with Certain Contract Capacities," commonly known as the "High Electricity Consumers Clause."
This case represents the first lawsuit filed by residents with vested interests following the implementation of the "Urban Planning Chapter of the Administrative Litigation Act" for newly proposed urban planning projects. The plaintiffs, consisting of residents, legal representatives, and civil society groups, held a press conference prior to the court hearing, explaining that the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, initiated alongside the construction of the third runway at Taoyuan Airport, encompasses a proposed urban plan covering over 4,500 hectares of land. Of this, more than 3,100 hectares are slated for acquisition through sectional expropriation. The residents opposed to expropriation have engaged legal representatives to seek judicial relief, asserting that the Aerotropolis urban plan lacks legitimacy and necessity, suffers from numerous flaws in evaluation, and constitutes severe legal violations. They hope the court will render a judgment that rectifies the urban planning process.
EJA, along with the Marine Conservation Law Amendment Advocacy Alliance, strongly urges the Legislative Yuan to take proactive action to push forward the most crucial aspect of marine conservation, empowering the Ocean Commission to truly implement the conservation of marine biodiversity and restore marine ecosystems. This empowerment will ensure that marine conservation progresses hand in hand with industrial development.
To encourage new lawyers to participate in public interest environmental litigation and to protect our beloved Taiwan together, we are promoting various activities, including campus outreach, environmental seminars, and specialized courses.
