Chief Justice Martha Koome Highlights the Role of the Judiciary in Addressing Climate Change at ELC Climate Justice Conference
Chief Justice Martha Koome on Tuesday opened the Environment and Land Court (ELC) Climate Justice Conference at Moi University, Annex Campus in Eldoret, marking a significant moment in Kenya’s ongoing efforts to address the climate crisis through the judiciary. The conference, focused on the theme **“The Role of the Courts in Remedying Climate Change Chaos,” is a critical dialogue on how the Kenyan judicial system can play an active role in the fight against climate change.
In her opening remarks, Chief Justice Koome highlighted the crucial role of the Environment and Land Court (ELC) in enhancing access to environmental justice in Kenya. The ELC, established with 52 judges across 40 court stations, has significantly improved the delivery of environmental justice throughout the country. Koome commended the court’s administrative reforms, particularly the creation of the Environment and Planning Division of the ELC in Nairobi, which aims to streamline processes and improve the efficiency of case handling.
“In the last financial year, this division resolved 87 cases within its first year of operation, compared to 103 cases filed in the same period. This demonstrates our commitment to the timely adjudication of environmental disputes,” she said. The Chief Justice emphasized that these measures represent a concerted effort by the judiciary to ensure that environmental cases are handled expeditiously, with a focus on accountability and sustainability**.
Speaking on the global impacts of climate change—such as devastating droughts, unprecedented floods, and shrinking natural resources—Chief Justice Koome underscored the importance of the courts’ role in safeguarding both humanity and the planet. She framed the climate crisis not merely as an environmental challenge, but as a fundamental justice and human rights issue that requires the judicial system to adopt a justice-centered approach to climate governance.
“The climate crisis demands that we develop green jurisprudence, reimagining the role of the courts as more than just arbiters of disputes,” Chief Justice Koome asserted. “The judiciary must also be champions of sustainable development, defenders of intergenerational equity, and guardians of environmental rights.”
Koome expressed her satisfaction with the progress made by Kenya’s courts, particularly the **ELC** and the **National Environmental Tribunal (NET)**, in advancing **environmental constitutionalism**. Recent landmark decisions by the courts have reinforced the principle of **distributive equity**, recognizing that vulnerable and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected by climate-related harm.
Additionally, the courts have underscored the right to information, participation, and access to justice in environmental decision-making, ensuring that communities have a voice in decisions that affect their environment and livelihoods. These decisions, according to Chief Justice Koome, represent the beginning of a transformative shift** in Kenya’s legal landscape, where the courts are playing a pivotal role in securing a more equitable climate future**.
“Kenya’s courts are embracing their responsibility to **protect the environment and ensure environmental justice** for all,” she said. “Our role is to support vulnerable communities by holding accountable those whose actions contribute to environmental degradation and to promote the right to a healthy environment** for future generations.”
In closing, Chief Justice Koome emphasized the need for continued collaboration between the judiciary, government, and civil society to strengthen climate justice in Kenya. She urged the participants at the conference to remain committed to using the law as a tool for **climate change mitigation and adaptation, ensuring that all communities, especially the most vulnerable, are protected from the devastating effects of climate change.
The conference continues as a platform for key stakeholders—including legal experts, environmental activists, government officials, and community leaders—to discuss strategies and solutions to improve climate justice and enhance the judiciary’s role in the fight against climate change.
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