The Compendium has been developed in response to requests made by Chief Justices and senior Judges of over one hundred countries who participated in the UNEP Global Judges Symposium on Sustainable Development and the Role of the Judiciary, held in Johannesburg on the eve of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in August 2002, as well as over twenty five regional and national Judges Symposia on Environmental Law organised by UNEP during past few years.