The adverse impacts of climate change and ocean acidification have brought harm or pose the threat of harm to people, on top of or in addition to, damage resulting from natural disasters. These harms resulting from the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification affect the exercise and enjoyment of Filipinos’ human rights to (a) to life; (b) to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; (c) to adequate food; (d) to water (e) to sanitation; (f) to adequate housing; (g) to self-determination; and (h) the human rights of marginalized and disadvantaged groups particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including (1) women; (2) children; (3) persons with disabilities; (4) those living in extreme poverty; (5) indigenous peoples; (6) displaced persons; and, (7) workers; as well as the right of Filipinos to development. The recognition of the Human Rights Council, OHCHR, and the parties to the UNFCCC that climate change impedes the full and effective enjoyment of human rights protected by the most fundamental international human rights conventions provides a framework for the requested investigation of the Honourable Commission. This investigation will further bolster the country’s leadership position on human rights in the UNFCCC process and at the Human Rights Council, and help achieve the country’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions with international aid by 70% by year 2030 in its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to the UNFCCC. At the 20th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC held in Lima, Peru, the Philippines made interventions calling for references to human rights, rights of indigenous peoples, and gender in the 2015 climate agreement. In its high-level ministerial statement, the Philippines reflected on the rights implications of a climate deal (or lack thereof), stating: “losing the credibility of the UN multilateral process is not only an insult to diplomacy but a complete disregard to human rights.”167 The Government of the Philippines joined 17 other countries in signing the Geneva Pledge on Human Rights and Climate Change in February 2015. This demonstrates the Philippines’ commitment to “promote and respect !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 167 M.A.L.L. Sering, Statement of the Philippines at the High Level Segment of the COP20/CMP 10 , Dec. 10, 2014, http://climate.gov.ph/index.php/media-resource/24-media-resources/speeches/98-high-levelsegment-statement-of-the-philippines-at-cop-20-cmp-10 (last accessed on June 16, 2015). ! ! ! ! ! 60 !