The Faculty of Law Universitas Indonesia hosted the International Conference on Investment, Trade, and Sustainable Development: International Law and Policy Perspectives from Indonesia and the European Union on 5–6 April 2023. The conference brought together scholars from Indonesia and Europe to discuss recent developments in international law and policy on investment, trade, and sustainable development, particularly in response to climate change and global economic challenges.

The discussions reflected a significant shift in international economic law, where sustainability and public interest considerations are increasingly integrated into investment and trade regulation. Academic perspectives highlighted that international law is no longer oriented solely toward economic protection, but is also expected to accommodate environmental objectives, climate policies, and sustainable development goals.

In this conference, Dr. Yetty Komalasari Dewi served as chairperson of Panel 3, “New Trends in Investment Protection.” The panel examined evolving approaches in international investment agreements, including growing attention to balancing investor protection with states’ regulatory space. In addition, Prof. Yetty participated as a speaker in the general debate on climate change mitigation and investment, addressing the interaction between climate policies and investment regimes, as well as potential tensions between environmental commitments and investment protection obligations.

The conference underscored the importance of a more integrated approach to investment law, international trade, and sustainability agendas. The discussions highlighted that the international economic law regime is undergoing an adjustment phase, where investment protection can no longer be separated from states’ responsibilities to protect the environment and the public interest. Key challenges ahead include ensuring that climate-responsive legal norms are implemented consistently while maintaining legal certainty for business actors, as the balance between regulatory space, investor protection, and sustainability commitments continues to shape the future of international investment and trade law.