The Climate Change and Human Rights Inquiry in the Philippines is the world’s first investigation into corporate responsibility for the climate crisis.
It was launched by the Philippines Commission on Human Rights (CHR) soon after typhoon survivors and civil society groups filed a complaint before the Commission in September 2015, calling for a probe into the possible human rights violations of the 47 biggest fossil fuel and cement companies (“Carbon Majors”) resulting from climate change.
A series of public inquiry hearings took place in Manila, New York, and London, which yielded in thousands of pages of documentary and testimonial evidence presented by Filipino and international science, policy, and legal experts, and narratives of individuals from different communities whose lives have been hugely affected by climate change.
The CHR’s national inquiry has clearly shown that people affected by climate change and whose human rights have been dramatically harmed must have access to remedies, and access to justice. Simply put, the Carbon Majors and other corporations have responsibilities to protect human rights as we face the climate emergency.
I. Memorandum and Annexes
- Table of Contents
- Memorandum for the Petitioners
- Annex A: Timeline
- Annex B: Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association vs. Chevron Corp. et al.
- Annex C: Big Oil’s Real Agenda on Climate Change (An InfluenceMap Report)
- Annex D: Corporate Statements on Climate Change and Human Rights
- Annex E: Respondent Carbon Majors’ Commitments, Scores, and Grades
- Annex F: 2019 Safe Climate Report
II. Petition and Annexes
- Amended Petition: Requesting for Investigation of the Responsibility of the Carbon Majors for Human Rights Violations or Threats of Violations Resulting from the Impacts of Climate Change
- Original Petition: Requesting for Investigation of the Responsibility of the Carbon Majors for Human Rights Violations or Threats of Violations Resulting from the Impacts of Climate Change
- Annex A: Non-exhaustive List of International Human Rights Treaties Signed and/or Ratified by the Philippines
- Annex B: Cover note from Climate Change Commission of the Office of the President of Philippines to the UNFCCC
- Annex B-1: Expert Report, Human Rights by John Knox, UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights and the Environment
- Annex B-2: Expert Report, Labour by Tord Kjellstrom et al., Ruby Coast Research Centre
- Annex C: List of respondents with addresses
- Annex D: Details of Carbon Majors publications
- Annex D-1: Climate Accountability Institute, Press Release on Update of Carbon Majors Project
- Annex D-2: Carbon Majors Accounting for carbon and methane emissions 1854-2010 Methods and Results Report
- Annex D-3: Tracing Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emissions to Fossil Fuel and Cement Producers, 1854-2010
- Annex E: Publications on Fossil Fuel Industry Involvement in Undermining Climate Science and Action
- Annex F: Past Research on Vulnerabilities and an Overview of Existing Literature on Climate Change Impacts in the Philippines
- Annex F-1: Background on Ocean Acidification
- Annex G: An Opinion of Center for International Environmental Law on Oil Industry Conduct and International Norms and Standards
- Annex H: The Rise in Global Atmospheric CO2, Surface Temperature, and Sea Level from Emissions Traced to Major Carbon Producers (The study was conducted by a team of scientists from the Union of Concerned Scientists, the Climate Accountability Institute, and Oxford University)
- Annex I: Acts of God, Human Influence and Litigation (Sophie Marjanac, Lindene Patton, and James Thornton)
- Annex J: Assessing ExxonMobil’s Climate Change Communications (1977–2014) (Geoffrey Supran and Naomi Oreskes)
- Annex K: Smoke and Fumes: The Legal and Evidentiary Basis for Holding Big Oil Accountable for the Climate Crisis (Center for International Environmental Law)
- Annex L: Literature review of studies related to climate change impacts in the Philippines (Update on the Past Research on Vulnerabilities and an Overview of Existing Literature on Climate Change Impacts in the Philippines) Carsten Walther; April 2017
III. Corporate Responses and Comments on the Petition
- Summary of Corporate Responses
- Apache
- Cemex
- Chevron
- ConocoPhillips
- Exxon
- LaFarge Holcim
- Marathon (Parts 1, 2, & 3)
- Peabody
- PWC
- Repsol (Parts 1 & 2)
- Rio Tinto
- Shell
- Taiheyo Cement
- Total (and Attached Study)
IV. Petitioners’ Consolidated Reply
- Petitioners’ Consolidated Reply
- Affidavit of Service
- Annex A: Overview of Corporate Responses
- Annex B: CIEL Opinion
- Annex to CIEL Opinion in Support of Petitioners
V. Corporate Rejoinders to the Consolidated Reply
- Chevron (US, Philippines, and Geothermal Services Company, Kalinga Ltd., & Malampaya LLC)
- ConocoPhillips
- ENI
- LaFarge Holcim
- Repsol
- Shell
VI. Commission on Human Rights’ Notice for companies to attend preliminary conference of parties
- Notice to Attend Preliminary Conference of Parties
- Order to Serve Notice to the Fossil Fuel Companies
VII. CHR Releases Related to the Case
- Press Release: CHR Holds Conference with the Parties
- Video: CHR Announces Public Hearings of Fossil Fuel Firms over Climate and Human Rights Impacts
- CHR Notice of Inquiry Hearing in Manila (March)
- CHR Notice of Inquiry Hearing in Manila (May)
- CHR Notice of Inquiry Hearing in Manila (August)
- CHR Notice of Inquiry Hearing in New York (September)
- CHR Notice of Inquiry Hearing in London (November)
- CHR Notice of Inquiry Hearing in Manila (December)
- Press Release: 2018 CHR Concluded Landmark Inquiry on the Effects of Climate Change to Human Rights; Expects to Set the Precedent in Seeking Climate Justice
- Notice to Submit Formal Offer of Evidence and Memorandum
- Amended Notice to Submit Formal Offer of Evidence and Memorandum
VIII. Statements and Documentary Exhibits of Resource Persons
- Statements of Resource Persons in the 1st Inquiry Hearing (Manila)
- Statements of Resource Persons in the 2nd Inquiry Hearing (Manila)
- Statements of Resource Persons in the 3rd Inquiry Hearing (Manila)
- Statements of Resource Persons in the 4th Inquiry Hearing (New York)
- Statements of Resource Persons in the 5th Inquiry Hearing (London)
- Statements of Resource Persons in the 6th Inquiry Hearing (Manila)
IX. Video Recordings of Inquiry Hearings
- 1st Inquiry Hearing (Manila) – Part 1, Part 2
- 2nd Inquiry Hearing (Manila) – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
- 3rd Inquiry Hearing (Manila) – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
- 4th Inquiry Hearing (New York) – Part 1, Part 2
- 5th Inquiry Hearing (London) – Part 1, Part 2
- 6th Inquiry Hearing (Manila) – Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3
X. Closing Statement for the Petitioners
XI. Commission on Human Rights’ Consultation of Experts (Netherlands)
- Video Coverage of Experts’ Presentations
- Exhibit A (Netherlands) 1901 – Shell climate – GM – Philippines CHR
- Exhibit B (Netherlands) FOE Presentation HRC 090119
- Exhibit C (Netherlands) Presentation by Amnesty International NL Jeanette van der Woude Human Rights due diligence and Shell in Nigeria
- Exhibit D (Netherlands) Presentation by Global WitneExhibit A (Netherlands) 1901 – Shell climate – GM – Philippines CHRss Barnaby Pace Shell and corruption
- Exhibit E (Netherlands) Shell- Notice of Climate Risks
- Exhibit F (Netherlands) Union of Concerned Scientists, Kathryn Mulvey via skype The 2018 Climate Accountability Scorecard on Shell
XII. Local Government Units’ Resolutions Supporting the Climate Change & Human Rights Petition
XIII. CHR Inquiry Hearings Official TSNs
XIV. Amicus Briefs Submitted to the Philippines Commission on Human Rights
XV. Formal Offer of Exhibits
XVI. Motion for Urgent Resolution of the Petition
- Ex-parte Manifestation and Motion for Urgent Resolution of the Petition
- Second Motion for Urgent Resolution – December 9, 2021