Amicus Curiae Brief presented by
ClientEarth
21 November 2016
Contents
1
ClientEarth's interest and expertise .................................................................................. 3
2
Summary of submissions ................................................................................................. 6
3
Jurisdictional issues.......................................................................................................... 8
3.1
Powers and functions of the commission .......................................................................... 9
3.2
Personal jurisdiction ....................................................................................................... 12
3.3
Subject matter jurisdiction .............................................................................................. 14
3.4
Prayer for relief sought ................................................................................................... 20
4
International human rights law and climate change ........................................................ 21
4.1
Obligations of States in respect of human rights and climate change ............................. 22
4.2
Obligations of business in respect of human rights and climate change ......................... 28
5
International climate change law .................................................................................... 30
5.1
UNFCCC ........................................................................................................................ 30
5.2
The Paris Agreement...................................................................................................... 31
5.3
Carbon budgets .............................................................................................................. 34
6
Evidence of the effects of climate change on human rights in the Philippines ................. 36
6.1
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ................................................................. 36
6.2
Attribution of greenhouse gas emissions ........................................................................ 39
7
Evidence of the contribution of the Carbon Majors ......................................................... 43
7.1
Corporate personhood.................................................................................................... 46
7.2
Emissions from operations and products to date ............................................................ 49
7.3
Ongoing and future activities .......................................................................................... 50
7.4
Conclusions on application of the Guiding Principles ...................................................... 51
8
Suggested findings and recommendations ..................................................................... 56
8.1
Findings.......................................................................................................................... 56
8.2
Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 58
9
Annexures ...................................................................................................................... 59
2