{"id":739,"date":"2018-10-11T14:51:00","date_gmt":"2018-10-11T06:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/master.k8s.p4.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/739\/4-findings-from-new-york-hearings-that-give-reasonsforhope\/"},"modified":"2021-12-01T20:39:53","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T12:39:53","slug":"4-findings-from-new-york-hearings-that-give-reasonsforhope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/press\/739\/4-findings-from-new-york-hearings-that-give-reasonsforhope\/","title":{"rendered":"4 findings from New York hearings that give #ReasonsForHope"},"content":{"rendered":"

New York is the home of the Yankees, Wall Street, and many of the biggest oil, gas, and coal \u00a0companies, or as we refer to them, the Big Polluters. While bankers traded and yellow cabs roamed the city, the Big Apple hosted the fourth session of a landmark investigation into the responsibility of carbon producers for human rights violations resulting from climate change. The official name of this investigation being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines is the National Inquiry on Climate Change. Next up is London from November 6-8, but let\u2019s have a recap of what happened in New York. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

In case you missed it, the full video streaming links are here:<\/span><\/p>\n

September 27 hearing <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

September 28 Hearing <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

With stories and testimonies that definitely circled the bases, the momentum is building, hopefully for a successful outcome in 2019. To the Commission on Human Rights and viewers from all over the globe, the resource speakers made these points clear: <\/span>(1) climate change violates human rights because corporations have failed to act, (2) there is no space for climate denial, (3) the fossil fuel companies are responsible, and (4) the Petition does not stand alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Climate change violates human rights<\/span><\/p>\n

The New York hearings brought the discussions back to the heart of the Petition\u2014<\/span>that climate change is a human rights issue\u2014<\/span>and a powerhouse of voices spoke this truth. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0Three brave Filipinas delivered powerful and interweaving statements of their ordeal with extreme weather events here and abroad.<\/span> Marinel Ubaldo<\/span><\/a> recounted Super Typhoon Haiyan, while<\/span> Candice Sering and Tina Cocadiz<\/span><\/a> talked of Hurricane Sandy. Marinel shared a heart-wrenching story of losing her identity and her mother, facing uncertainties, dealing with mental health problems, and struggling for survival as a result of Super Typhoon Haiyan. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

Tina spoke of struggles and hidden costs of experiencing calamities, that of basic human rights being violated, while<\/span> Candice<\/span><\/a> talked of trauma and rebuilding after the calamity, and shared her fear that people are seeing these as the \u2018new normal.\u2019 After Hurricane Sandy destroyed their neighborhood, she expressed a sense of loss of community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Katherine Lofts<\/span><\/a> of McGill University supported all community witness statements on calamities \u00a0causing human rights harms, adding that climate change acts as a \u201cthreat multiplier\u201d which reinforces social inequalities and worsens existing vulnerabilities.<\/span> Prof. Cynthia Williams<\/span><\/a>, a resource person on behalf of the Commission, affirmed that climate change is a human rights problem, stating that \u201cwe must do more and at scale\u201d and \u201cit\u2019s a tragedy and failure of world governments to take seriously what they need to do,\u201d and she stressed the importance of the Commission\u2019s National Inquiry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prof. Erin Daly<\/span><\/a>, Director of Global Network for Human Rights and the Environment, stressed the pivotal importance of human dignity in the legal protection of rights threatened by climate change. Rights affected by climate change (right to life, water, housing, culture, health, etc) are all connected to the right to human dignity. She stated that it cannot be<\/span>
<\/span>imagined to live in dignity in a polluted environment. Thus, protecting dignity<\/span>
<\/span>means protecting the environment and averting catastrophic climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is no space for climate denial<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It has been established in previous hearings that some of the companies being investigated thrive and profit from deceiving the public about the risks of climate change, but the New York hearings emphasize that the science is strong and indisputable, therefore companies must put an end to climate denial.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prof. Radley Horton<\/span><\/a> of Columbia University reemphasized the role of greenhouse gas emissions to the Earth\u2019s warming through a presentation of statistics. He claimed that in terms of societal impact, the shifts in warming conditions is hugely important, since these impact the <\/span>frequency and intensity of extreme events. \u00a0Similarly,<\/span> Dr. James Hansen<\/span><\/a> presented recent extreme weather events and scientific data on changing climate. He warned that \u201cthere<\/span>
<\/span>is substantial warming in the pipeline\u201d and shared potential injustices that can result from this. <\/span><\/p>\n


\nOn the eve of the public hearings, Marinel shared her story to a crowd in New York, and ended with these powerful words: <\/span>\u201cNo amount of climate denial, or apathy can resurrect our loved ones. But I hope to awaken the minds of those most responsible for climate change, of those who have the greatest capacity to act and change the current system for the protection of vulnerable communities everywhere.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Fossil Fuel Companies are responsible and accountable<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Like how<\/span> Carroll Muffett<\/span><\/a> and other experts divulged Shell\u2019s and other Big Polluters\u2019 climate denial in last month\u2019s hearings, <\/span>Kert Davis<\/span><\/a>, Founder and Director of the <\/span>Climate Investigations Center<\/span><\/a>, added to this growing knowledge by revealing a 2013 article by the Committee for A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT)\u2013an organization funded by Exxon\u2013which stated there are \u201cno worthwhile science or historical records which support the notion that extreme storms have worsened in the Philippines or elsewhere as a result of a warming planet.\u201d Clearly, this is yet another example of those acting in the interest of fossil fuels attempt to confuse the public about climate science. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

David Estrin<\/span><\/a>, on the other hand, noted what fossil fuel companies should do voluntarily:<\/span><\/p>\n

1) acknowledge the need to commit to decarbonizing their products, coupled with corporate policy commitments;<\/span><\/p>\n

2) have their board pass resolutions on improved investment allocations; and <\/span><\/p>\n

3) create a Transition Pathway Analysis, while governments and sub governments should take charge in monitoring and regulating such commitments.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

We are not alone in this fight<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This petition does not stand alone. It\u2019s the first of its kind but it continues to be part of a wave of climate litigation cases sprouting worldwide. <\/span><\/p>\n

The inquiry can learn a lot from a case against the similarly destructive tobacco industry.<\/span> Sharon Eubanks<\/span><\/a>, a former attorney at the US Department of Justice, talked about the case that established the tobacco industry\u2019s accountability for health impacts. The documents from this <\/span>groundbreaking case showed that the industry used a PR campaign to deny health<\/span>
<\/span>consequences and concealed adverse scientific impacts. These acts bear a lot of<\/span>
<\/span>similarities to the Carbon Majors\u2019 acts of climate deception.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even the City of New York has its own share of climate action, and<\/span> Daniel Zarrili<\/span><\/a> of the Mayor\u2019s Office shared the city\u2019s initiatives to address climate change centered on themes:<\/span>
<\/span>mitigation\/sustainability, resiliency, and accountability. He discussed the importance of reducing GHG emissions, investments on institutionalizing resiliency, and suing fossil fuel companies that caused the climate crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

We may have scored home runs, but the opponents (aka the fossil fuel companies) still refused to show up, even at their home field; though a number of lawyers in very nice suits were in the room furiously taking notes. We can only hope that these lawyers will email CEOs a memo with one piece of advice: <\/span>Fossil fuel companies should fulfill their responsibilities to the people harmed by climate change, and compliance with human rights obligations require their cooperation with the investigation. <\/span>Perhaps if the memo is marked urgent, a few visionary, innovative corporate leaders will join us in London on 6-8 November. Until then, we see the New York round as a win, and another step towards #ClimateJustice. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

London, here we come. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/h2>\n

Add your voice to our call for #ClimateJustice.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
Sign up!<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSupport clean energy\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Renewable energy is the key to our country’s energy independence. But coal companies and politicians are holding us back. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t \n TAKE ACTION\n <\/a>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/section>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn all the findings from the National Inquiry on Climate Change, investigation being conducted by the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":48,"featured_media":740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"p4_og_title":"","p4_og_description":"","p4_og_image":"","p4_og_image_id":"","p4_seo_canonical_url":"","p4_campaign_name":"","p4_local_project":"","p4_basket_name":"","p4_department":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[6,26],"p4-page-type":[14],"class_list":["post-739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sustainability","tag-climate","tag-justice","p4-page-type-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/48"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=739"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11322,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/739\/revisions\/11322"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=739"},{"taxonomy":"p4-page-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/philippines\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/p4-page-type?post=739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}