Tanggol Kalikasan’s Executive Director Atty. Fritzielyn Palmiery and Staff Lawyer Atty. Mark Martinez attended the Supreme Court’s National Summit on Sustainability and Environmental Law with the theme “Enabling Environmental and Climate Justice: Bridging Science and Laws for Responsive Rules and Sustainable Development.” It was held from November 27-30, 2024, at Aziza Hotel, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
Led by SC’s Justice Committee on Sustainability and Environmental Concerns (JCSEC), the event aimed to amend the Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases (RPEC) to enable more effective, responsive, and sustainable legal processes and remedies. The summit brought together various stakeholders to discuss the pressing environmental issues in the Philippines and explore ways legal practitioners and institutions could help mitigate these problems. The insights shared by the participants served as the foundation for the proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases. By involving the Judiciary at all levels, the legal profession, government, the business community, and environmental advocates in the summit’s discussions, the Court sought to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current environmental landscape and legal practices to inform more timely and responsive revisions to the RPEC.
In addition to bringing together all the technical working groups to harmonize their recommendations on the proposed amendments, the National Summit also brought together international and local experts to discuss key environmental knowledge issues. The summit fostered further dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of addressing the emerging problems of climate change and environmental degradation. By hosting the event, the Supreme Court sought to pursue a holistic and comprehensive response to the need for a modern and responsive Judiciary.