Petitioners in the landmark human rights complaint on climate change are pressing for the Commission on Human Rights to summon the 47 oil companies for allegedly endangering the people’s lives and livelihoods and the future generations.
Anna Abad, Climate Justice Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said the petition against the fossil fuel companies worldwide, seeks investigation into, and accountability of, these companies for climate impacts.
The complaint is the first of its kind in the world and is being brought forward by typhoon survivors, advocates and non-governmental organizations, including Greenpeace Southeast Asia.
The petitioners are supported by more than 31,800 Filipinos out of the more than 128,000 global online supporters.
Abad described the petition as a big, bold step for the Philippines as it is at the forefront of campaigns on climate impacts.
“But this courageous undertaking can only succeed with the unifying support of government agencies, communities, civil society organizations and other human rights institutions from all over the globe,” she said.
The petitioners submitted to the CHR copies of their petition in compliance with CHR’s May 10, 2016 Order, which also enjoins the respondents to answer within 45 days upon receiving their copies.
“We demand justice. These big oil companies should acknowledge their accountability for the impacts of their irresponsible business activities on the lost homes, lives and livelihood of those that are at the mercy of climate change,’’ said Abad.
“Filipinos are among the most vulnerable and we hope that the investigation of the CHR will finally be able to right some wrongs,” Abad said.
Last May 10, the CHR directed the petitioners to reproduce and submit copies of the petition, including supporting exhibits and annexes, for sending out to the 47 companies. These companies were accused of being part of fhe 90 legal entities that have contributed the lion’s share of cumulative global CO2 and methane emissions to the earth’s atmosphere, as identified by peer-reviewed scientific research.
The petition covering climate change and human rights was brought to the CHR initially in September 2015. By December, the CHR announced that it will open an investigation in 2016 using a National Inquiry approach.