In Re Greenpeace Southeast Asia and Others

The Human Rights Commission of the Philippines has concluded its three-year investigation of a complaint led by Greenpeace South-East Asia, and has found that the collective contribution to global heating by 47 coal, cement, and oil and gas companies has violated Filipinos’ basic human rights to life, water, food, sanitation, adequate housing and self-determination. Although the full decision is not yet available – but promised by the end of 2019 – the announcement made by one of the Commissioners at the COP25 meetings stated that it would be up to individual countries to pass strong legislation and establish legal liability in their own courts, but that “there was clear scope under existing civil law in the Philippines to take action.” This is the first time ever that a human rights body has stated that fossil fuel companies can be found legally and morally liable for harms linked to climate change. In its groundbreaking investigation, the CHR announced that the 47 investor-owned corporations, including Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, BP, Repsol, Sasol, and Total, could be found legally and morally liable for human rights harms to Filipinos resulting from climate change. The CHR also found the relevant criminal intent may exist to hold companies accountable under civil and criminal laws, in light of certain circumstances involving obstruction, willful obfuscation and climate denial. The CHR has concluded 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, big polluters and other corporations have the responsibility to protect human rights as we face the climate emergency.

To look at case documents such as: Memorandum and Annexes, Petition and Annexes, Corporate Responses and comments on the petition, Petitioners’ Consolidated Reply, Corporate Rejoinders to the Consolidated Reply, Commission on Human Rights’ Notice for companies to attend preliminary conference of parties, CHR releases related to the case, Statements and documentary exhibits of resource persons, Video recordings of inquiry hearings, losing statement for the Petitioners, Commission on Human Rights’ Consultation of Experts (Netherlands),Local Government Units’ Resolutions Supporting the Climate Change & Human Rights Petition, CHR inquiry hearings official TSNs and Amicus Briefs Submitted to the Philippines Commission on Human Rights, consult:Greenpeace Philippines Joint Summary of the Amicus Curiae

Also look: Philippines Climate Case Could Find Fossil Fuel Companies Violate Human Rights, Carbon Majors Can Be Held Liable for Human Rights Violations, Philippines Commission Rules, Philippines Human Rights Commission delivers landmark decision, holding the Carbon Majors accountable for climate damages – Updated and Carbon'Majors: Accounting'for'carbon'and'methane'emissions'1854;2010 Methods'&'Results'Report (Richard Heede, 2014)