Segovia vs. Climate Change Commission, G.R. No. 211010 (Philippines)

This is a petition for the issuance of Writs of Kalikasan and continuing mandamus to compel the implementation of the Climate Change Act, Clean Air Act and other environmental laws and executive issuances. Petitioners are Carless People of the Philippines, parents, representing their children, who in turn represent "Children of the Future, and Car-owners who would rather not have cars if good public transportation were safe, convenient, accessible, available and reliable." They claim that they are entitled to the issuance of the extraordinary writs due to the alleged failure and refusal of respondents to perform an act mandated by environmental laws, and violation of environmental laws resulting in environmental damage of such magnitude as to prejudice the life, health and property of all Filipinos.

Petitioners alleged that the government should reduce “personal and official consumption of fossil fuels” by at least 50%. They asserted that the government should (i) reduce vehicular traffic by implementing road sharing with pedestrians and cyclists, (ii) devote public open spaces to sustainable urban farming, and (iii) allocate more budget to mitigate environmental pollution. 

The petition failed. The court found that apart from bare allegations, petitioners were not able to show that respondents failed to execute any of the laws petitioners cited. On the other hand, public respondents sufficiently showed that they did not unlawfully refuse to implement or neglect the laws, executive and administrative orders as claimed by the petitioners. Projects and programs that seek to improve air quality were undertaken by the respondents, jointly and in coordination with stakeholders, such as: priority tagging of expenditures for climate change adaptation and mitigation, the Integrated Transport System which is aimed to decongest major thoroughfares, Truck Ban, Anti-Smoke Belching Campaign, Anti-Colorum, Mobile Bike Service Programs and Urban Re-Greening Programs.