The complaint, which is the first of its kind in the world, is being brought forward by typhoon survivors, advocates and non-governmental organisations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia. The group is demanding an investigation into the top 50 investor-owned fossil fuel companies and their responsibility for climate impacts that endanger people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as that of future generations.
“We demand justice. Climate change has taken our homes and our loved ones. These powerful corporations must be called to account for the impact of their business activities,” said Elma Reyes from Alabat Island in Quezon who survived Super Typhoon Rammasun, and is part of the group submitting the complaint to the CHR.
The 50 companies, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips, are a subset of the 90 legal entities that have contributed the lion's share of cumulative global CO2 and methane emissions in the earth’s atmosphere, as identified by peer-reviewed research.
Organisations that have provided advice and support to the group submitting the complaint include Amnesty International, Avaaz, Business and Human Rights Resources Centre, Climate Justice Programme, the Center for International Environmental Law, EarthRights International, International Trade Union Confederation, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“We pray that the CHR heed the demand to recommend to policymakers and legislators to develop and adopt effective accountability mechanisms that victims of climate change can easily access,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Executive Secretary of Caritas Philippines and a recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize. [4] “Inspired by Pope Francis, the Church will support this Philippine climate change and human rights complaint and will continue to serve as a strong ally in the struggle for a socially just, environmentally sustainable, and spiritually rich world that the Pope and the broader climate movement are fighting for.”
“From the Netherlands to the US, people are using legal systems to hold their governments to account and demand climate action. We hope that the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines will take the bold step in being the first in the world to hold big corporate polluters accountable for their contribution to the climate crisis,” said Attorney Zelda Soriano, legal and political advisor for Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
The groups submitting the complaint are calling for the investigation to be launched this year. This is an important building block in establishing the moral and legal ‘precedent’ that big polluters can be held responsible for current and threatened human rights infringements resulting from fossil fuel products. These companies have benefited financially with knowledge of the harms associated with their products. The groups submitting the complaint all agree that now is the time for the big polluters to bear responsibility for preventing climate harm.
"Though uncertain of the outcome, I know that adding my name as a petitioner is important and supports a much greater cause that will ensure environmental justice for all Filipinos and the rest of humanity,” said Elma Reyes who started the online petition supporting the human rights and climate change complaint.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
[1] Climate Change and Human Rights complaint
[2] PHOTOS: Greenpeace photos from the petition delivery
[3] Carbon Majors: Accounting for carbon and methane emissions 1854-2010, Methods & Results Report
[4] List of petitioners to the Climate Change and Human Rights complaint is composed of 14 organisations, 20 individuals, and 1,288 Filipinos who expressed support for this complaint
[5] Greenpeace Southeast Asia petition
Supporting statements by individual and organizational petitioners:
“The time has come to make the big polluters pay. They must be held liable for the immense and untold damage being caused by global warming impacts especially on the weak and vulnerable." - Von Hernandez, Greenpeace International, Goldman Environmental Prize Awardee and Environmental Activist
“The call for Climate Justice is a call to hold accountable those responsible for the climate change crisis. Clearly, due to the action and inaction of a few, the rights of the vast majority who are vulnerable are trampled on." - Naderev “Yeb’ Saño, Climate Advocate and Spiritual Ambassador to Our Voices.
Supporting statements from organizations that have provided advice and support
to the petitioners:
“Loss and damage is already being caused by climate change. The most vulnerable people are suffering while Big Oil, Coal and Gas producers make huge profits. This human rights complaint is an important and necessary action we should expect from impacted communities who are at the forefront of climate change.” - Dr. Keely Boom, Climate Justice Programme
“By acting on this petition, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines has the opportunity to set a vital precedent clarifying the responsibility of business for negative human rights impacts caused by their contributions to climate change. Corporate accountability for climate impacts must go hand in hand with innovative business solutions and strong government initiatives to tackle climate change.” - Atty. Bobbie Sta. Maria, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Media contacts:
Zelda Soriano, Legal and Political Advisor for Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines), mobile: +63 917 5949424, email: 
Anna Abad, Climate Justice Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines), mobile: +63 917 8573330, email: 
Grace Cabus, Images Producer for Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Philippines), mobile: +63917-6345126, email: 
Greenpeace International Press Desk, 
, phone: +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)