{"id":68334,"date":"2025-07-24T16:32:22","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T08:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/?p=68334"},"modified":"2025-07-24T16:32:27","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T08:32:27","slug":"worlds-highest-court-delivers-historic-protections-for-climate-impacted-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/68334\/worlds-highest-court-delivers-historic-protections-for-climate-impacted-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"World\u2019s highest court delivers historic protections for climate-impacted communities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Greenpeace to PBBM: Use ICJ ruling to make climate polluters pay<\/h2>\n\n
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Photo by: Noel Celis \/ Greenpeace
\u00a9 Noel Celis \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

24 July 2025, Quezon City \u2014 A landmark advisory opinion issued Wednesday by the International Court of Justice (ICJ)[1]<\/sup>\u00a0can pave the way for Filipino communities to seek reparations from the world\u2019s biggest climate polluters. Greenpeace is challenging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, to lead the way in pursuing climate accountability by taking fossil fuel companies to court and enacting strong policies for corporate climate accountability.<\/p>\n\n

The challenge comes as the country continues to be assailed by extreme rains brought on by a Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) intensified by three tropical storms, in the space of a week. At present, communities around the country are still bracing for flooding and landslides. Over 2.7 million Filipinos have been affected so far, at least twelve have lost their lives, and infrastructure damage is raking in at over 3.7 billion pesos and climbing.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe ruling of the world\u2019s highest court marks the start of a new era of climate accountability on a global scale, and a turning point in the march for climate justice,\u201d said Greenpeace Senior Campaigner Virginia Benosa-Llorin. \u201cThe President would be extremely negligent if he ignores the opportunity this offers for new legal actions against polluters, particularly those whose activities have significantly contributed to the climate crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace says that the Advisory Opinion could compel major polluters to cut emissions while healing harms with climate reparations. The Court\u2019s decision obligates States to regulate businesses on the harm caused by their emissions regardless of where the harm takes place. Significantly, the Court found that the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is fundamental for all other human rights, and that intergenerational equity should guide the interpretation of all climate obligations.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThe message of the Court is clear: the production, consumption and granting of licenses and subsidies for fossil fuels could be breaches of International Law. Polluters must stop emitting and must pay for the harms they have caused,\u201d said Benosa-Llorin.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cAt Monday\u2019s SONA, we want to see President Marcos, Jr. take up the cudgels for the millions of Filipinos constantly besieged by extreme weather. We want to hear him declare that we will demand climate reparations as a nation, and that he will enact the Climate Accountability (CLIMA) Bill.\u201d[2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace activists conducted a creative protest in flooded neighborhoods in Rizal and Bulacan on Wednesday,[3]<\/sup>\u00a0to spotlight the urgent need for climate accountability. Images from the action have gone viral on social media, capturing public outrage and underscoring how climate impacts are becoming impossible to ignore.<\/p>\n\n

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References:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

[1] ICJ Summary of the  Advisory Opinion of 23 July 2025<\/a> | Written Replies of the Republic of the Philippines 20 Dec 2024<\/a>          <\/p>\n\n

[2] Philippine congress files world\u2019s first climate accountability bill<\/a><\/p>\n\n

[3] Greenpeace to PBBM: The Real State of the Nation Demands Climate Accountability<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Notes to the Editor:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace is calling on President Marcos Jr to:<\/p>\n\n