Quezon City, Philippines—A pending resolution to a climate and human rights inquiry will be key to securing the future of Filipinos post-pandemic, according to environmental and human rights groups.
The groups, who are today marking the fifth anniversary of a landmark climate change and human rights petition filed at the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) [1], noted that the inquiry–which is looking at the responsibility of fossil fuel and cement industries for human rights harms arising from the impacts of the climate crisis–is now more timely and relevant as countries examine the need for systemic changes following economic upheavals brought on by the COVID pandemic.
Greenpeace Philippines, as one of the petitioners to the case, is hopeful that the CHR will issue a Resolution that will support the call for climate justice, specifically holding the biggest carbon polluters accountable, as well as for the government to put climate action and people’s well-being at the center of national and local policymaking.
“We commend the CHR for their continued commitment and we look forward to their decision because it could help communities envision a ‘better normal,’ where people’s rights are being prioritized over corporate gains,” Greenpeace Campaigner Virginia Benosa-Llorin said. “Communities continue to suffer from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis while fossil fuel companies continue to rake in profits. But the CHR’s decision can make a difference as it could inspire other governments around the world to establish a more transparent regulatory environment where climate change and human rights are at the core of corporate due diligence and proactively regulate fossil fuel companies’ destructive businesses.”
Last month, CHR Commissioner Roberto Cadiz said the resolution is undergoing a careful study before its release because they recognize the importance of the Resolution in “creating a landmark decision” that “other courts and human rights institutions in and outside the country” can utilize. [2]
“We are facing a climate emergency that threatens the rights and lives of our people. We hope CHR will not waste any time in issuing its decision because climate change and its impact on human rights get worse with the delay of the resolution,” Rose Trajano, secretary general of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, said.
The first-of-its-kind climate change and human rights petition, filed in 2015 by Filipino civil society organizations and representatives from climate-impacted communities, seeks to hold “carbon majors” or the biggest investor-owned fossil and cement companies, such Shell, Total, Exxon, Chevron, and BP, responsible for their contribution to the climate crisis, which cost communities their right to life, livelihood resources, shelter, among others.
Once released, the CHR decision could give rise to legal and political actions to protect communities, in the Philippines and abroad, against fossil fuel companies’ climate-destructive activities. The groups are urging the administration to hold fossil fuel and cement industries accountable for human rights harms arising from the impacts of the climate crisis, and to ensure that its power development plans focus on a managed transition from fossil fuel dependence to 100% renewable energy.
Representatives from climate-vulnerable communities, including youth and fisherfolk communities, earlier expressed hope that the CHR decision will encourage actions from corporations to secure their living conditions [3].
Notes to editors:
[1] In 2015, 14 human rights and environmental groups and 18 individuals, including Greenpeace and PAHRA, filed a petition seeking to investigate the responsibility of major investor-owned fossil companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, Total, BHP Billiton, Suncor, and ConocoPhillips in fueling the climate crisis, causing human rights harms to Filipinos. Read more: https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/the-climate-change-human-rights-inquiry-archive/
[2] CHR Commissioner Roberto Cadiz said the initial findings show that fossil fuel companies could be found legally liable for blocking efforts to transition to clean energy. Read more: https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/press/9922/chr-eyes-conclusion-of-case-vs-fossil-fuel-companies-in-august-communities-call-for-climate-justice-people-centered-decisions/
[3] https://www.facebook.com/greenpeaceph/videos/363661727977804/
[4] Since the filing petition, this effort has achieved several milestones, including creating a massive body of scientific data, documentary evidence, and legal analysis for corporate responsibility relative to climate-related human rights impacts.
Media contact:
Angeli Cantillana
Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63 998 595 9733
Filipinos are enduring the worst impacts of climate change, caused by greedy corporations. It’s time to hold them to account!