Puerto Princesa: Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo on Thursday assured that the Judiciary is committed to uplift environmental law and legal practice toward effective environmental and climate action. Speaking before the National Summit on Sustainability and Environmental Law in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Gesmundo said the Philippines has worked hard to address environmental harm and tackle the climate crisis. According to Philippines News Agency, the judiciary has played its role in this regard, fully aware of its duty to protect the rights of the people, especially the fundamental right to a balanced and healthful ecology, as enshrined in the constitution. This responsibility has guided the Court in tackling key cases that have resulted in landmark rulings for environmental protection and climate action. Gesmundo highlighted efforts to ensure that rules and procedures evolve to keep pace with scientific developments on climate and the environment, as well as the changing needs of the people. He mentioned th e Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases issued by the Supreme Court in 2010, which provided a simplified, speedy, and inexpensive procedure for the enforcement of environmental rights and duties. This includes the introduction of the special Writ of Kalikasan (Nature) and specific requirements for the issuance of a writ of continuing mandamus. For sustainability, the Chief Justice cited efforts toward electronic courts, which have significantly reduced paper waste from court filings. Other initiatives include issuing a memorandum discouraging the use of single-use plastics and encouraging alternatives, as well as the creation of the Judicial Committee on Sustainability and Environmental Concerns. Gesmundo noted that the summit's goal is to uplift the law and legal practice toward effective environmental and climate action by listening to proposals and suggestions from a wide range of stakeholders, including practitioners, judges, and the business sector. He emphasized the judiciary's unified approach t o climate action and its determination to ensure proposed solutions and revisions accurately reflect and respond to the needs and challenges faced by those on the ground, especially the most vulnerable. The National Summit on Sustainability and Environmental Law, which runs from Nov. 27 to 30, aims to amend the Rules of Procedure in Environmental Cases to enable effective, responsive, and sustainable legal processes and remedies. It brings together different stakeholders to discuss current environmental problems in the Philippines and how these may be mitigated by legal practitioners and institutions.