Ruling
Yes. The Supreme Court in granting the petition ruled
that the children had the legal standing to file the case
based on the concept of intergenerational
responsibility. Their right to a healthy environment
carried with it an obligation to preserve that environment
for the succeeding generations. In this, the Court
recognized legal standing to sue on behalf of future
generations. Also, the Court said, the law on nonimpairment of contracts must give way to the exercise of
the police power of the state in the interest of public
welfare.
Relevance
The case of Oposa vs. Factoran has been widely cited
worldwide for its concept of intergenerational
responsibility, particularly in cases related to ecology
and the environment. For example: