Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines – The world’s first legal investigation into the responsibility of fossil fuel companies for human rights impacts resulting from climate change is nearing closure with the submission today of the final Memorandum by the petitioners.[1]
The submission took place a day before the global climate strikes, when young people from around the world are expected to mobilize and raise the alarm to demand more urgent action and meaningful solutions from governments and corporations on the climate emergency.
The petitioners, accompanied by youth, community representatives, as well as other NGOs, submitted in unison the final memorandum before the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) office in Quezon City.
The final memorandum summarizes scientific and legal evidence on how the Carbon Majors significantly contributed to climate change and human rights impacts, and how the fossil fuel industry misled the public on the science and the climate harms these have caused and continue to cause the Filipinos. This is the final milestone for the petitioners in this 4-year journey before the Resolution of the CHR is expected to come out at the end of this year.
The submission of the memorandum this week coincided with a multi-day silent protest at the Shell headquarters in Taguig City by representatives of climate-impacted communities calling for climate justice.
Notes to the editors:
[1] The CHR investigation on climate change and human rights, filed on 22 September 2015, is the first of its kind in the world, and is part of a growing movement of climate litigation cases worldwide, which have emerged in recent years. Since its filing, the case has become one of the biggest repositories of scientific and legal evidence on how the fossil fuel industry is fueling climate change and how the impacts are leading to human rights harms. The CHR carried out public hearings throughout 2018 in the Philippines, New York, and London as part of its investigation. It received various testimonies from community representatives in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and from prominent climate scientists and legal and policy experts.
More information is available here: https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/press/1237/the-climate-change-and-human-rights-petition/
Media Contacts:
Desiree Llanos Dee, Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63 998 595 9733
JP Agcaoili, Communications Manager
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63 949 889 1334
Quotes:
Desiree Llanos Dee, climate justice campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines:
“Filipino communities have been feeling the effects of the climate crisis for years now, especially those from the most vulnerable sectors who have the least means to cope. But we are very hopeful that all the prayers outlined in the submissions of the petitioners will be granted by the CHR after this final memorandum. Experiences on the ground by these Filipino communities and the data from climate science presented in this investigation align, and this body of evidence can prove as a useful reference for all other climate and human rights cases around the world, becoming a beacon of hope for communities on the climate frontlines.”
Lerissa Libao, petitioner from Alabat, Quezon:
“Inaasahan namin ang resolusyon ng Komisyon. Mahalaga ito para sa kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Para ito sa kinabukasan natin lahat.”
Von Hernandez, petitioner, Goldman Prize recipient 2003
“The climate crisis is a human rights issue, with serious and grave implications on the survival and coping abilities of marginalized sectors of society. In pursuit of justice, we hope the CHR will clarify the role of fossil fuel companies in bringing about the crisis and clearly establish their responsibility and accountability for infringing on the rights of Filipinos, especially those who are vulnerable to the intensifying impacts of climate change.”
Rose Trajano, Secretary General of PAHRA (Philippine Alliance for Human Rights)
“We are in a climate emergency. We hope that the CHR will not waste any time in issuing the resolution.”
Kath Kulaba, SENTRO (Sentro ng mga Nagakakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa)
“The investigation should hold the Carbon Majors responsible for doing business-as-usual whilst impact of their projects has been setting the world up for massive destruction– wrecking people’s homes and lives.”
Filipinos are enduring the worst impacts of climate change, caused by greedy corporations. It’s time to hold them to account!
Discussion
This is very laudable. I wish I can get more materials for my paper on CC Litigation in the Philippines part of my Climate Justice book.