With a committed, interdisciplinary and diverse delegation, the Environmental Law Clinic of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) actively participated in the IV Meeting of the Alliance of Environmental Law Clinics of Latin America and the Caribbean, held April 9-11 at the Ibero-American University of Mexico City (IBERO CDMX).
This meeting of great international relevance brought together more than 25 universities and networks from 15 countries, together with agencies of the United Nations system, civil society organizations, teachers, researchers and students. The event was consolidated as a fundamental space to discuss legal strategies, exchange training experiences and strengthen collaborative networks in defense of the environment, collective rights and the sustainability of the planet.
The PUCP delegation: an active voice from the Global South
PUCP’s participation was led by Andrea Domínguez Noriega, a professor at the Clinic and coordinator of the regional Alliance, together with Mariano Castro Sánchez-Moreno, former Vice Minister of Environmental Management and founding professor of the CJA PUCP. They were accompanied by 19 students and volunteers, who presented advances in their cases, shared methodological reflections and dialogued with peers from throughout the region in thematic panels.
Environmental Sacrifice Zones
Illegal mining
Strategic litigation and legal support
Socio-environmental clinical education
Defense of environmental leaders
This participation was made possible thanks to the valuable support of the Academic Directorate of Institutional Relations (DARI-PUCP), the Peruvian Society of Environmental Law (SPDA), and the unwavering commitment of the student team. The delegation responsibly assumed the academic and logistical challenges of this international forum, strengthening their capacities in multicultural and collaborative contexts.
The event featured prominent figures such as Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico; the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on climate change, environment and health, water, and toxic waste; and representatives from ECLAC, UN Environment, UNEP, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Centrus IBERO, and numerous Latin American academic networks.
Since its founding, the PUCP Environmental Law Clinic has promoted an active, situated, and ethical teaching model for environmental law, combining legal training, legal action, and a commitment to social transformation. Its participation in this meeting reaffirms its regional leadership and its key role in training a new generation of ethical, critical, and committed jurists for environmental justice.
With its eyes on the Fifth Meeting of the Alliance, which the University of Chile will host (2026), the PUCP renews its commitment to regional integration, strengthening access to environmental justice, and student agency in real processes of change.
"This space evidenced the importance of empowering new generations through direct work with communities and real cases. The exchange between clinics demonstrates that law can be a transformative tool if combined with technical knowledge, social sensitivity and collaborative work."
Florangel Camargo
"The meeting was an exciting and enriching experience. I observed the dedication of so many students and professionals committed to environmental justice. I take away the importance of collaborative work, feedback and synergies. The clinics are key to forming new generations with a strong ethical and environmental sense."
Rocío Mancha
"I reaffirmed my commitment to environmental law, especially from the CJA PUCP. Seeing how access to environmental justice is promoted from academia, with synergies between actors, is deeply inspiring."
Gonzalo Rivera
