The Alabat Petitioners explain that in recent years they have been compelled to resettle their houses farther inland because the sea seems to have risen and eaten up the formerly vast shoreline. This was a decision that some of them made painfully for their own safety or to comply with a government order that they needed to obey even against their will. Some needed to brave the middle and high seas with their small to medium sized motorized bancas, often without navigation aids and equipment appropriate to the depth and distance of fishing, because fish catch in the municipal waters appears to be declining. Farming, copra making, and backyard vegetable gardening have also been difficult, and recently, often unproductive. Incomes from these activities have not augmented Petitioners’ meager and declining income from fishing. They have noticed that it has become warmer in their communities in the last few years. During these warmer years, the fish catch was decreasing, and some of their crops, coconuts and other vegetables had low yields, and of almost unmarketable quality. Their recorded interviews are hereby submitted as Exhibit “A”. In Verde Island Passage, climate change poses specific threats: It is projected that climate change will cause rising sea levels, higher ocean temperatures, and more acidic waters. As the ocean largely regulates the climate, changes in ocean temperatures and currents are already altering the frequency, intensity, and distribution of storms, floods, heat waves, and the amount and distribution of rainfall. The unique biodiversity of the Verde Island Passage is at risk. In addition, the loss of biodiversity directly impacts its local communities, as their livelihoods are dependent primarily on tourism, fisheries, and agriculture, all of which are dependent on these threatened natural resources.51 Petitioners are also submitting the recorded interviews of some residents of Verde Island Passage as Exhibit “B” that describe their personal perspective of the effects of climate change in everyday life and livelihood and how these effects interfere with the enjoyment of their human rights. 3. Ocean Acidification Although this petition primarily discusses climate change, increased CO2 emissions are also causing the acidification of the Earth’s oceans, with potentially serious impacts. Ocean acidification is climate change’s “evil twin.”52 The emissions from fossil fuels produced and !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 51 R. Boquiren, G. Di Carlo, and M.C. Quibilan (Eds). 2010. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment of the Verde Island Passage, Philippines. Technical report. Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, USA, preface. Available at http://www.conservation.org/global/philippines/publications/Documents/ian_report_315_full_report_VA.pdf.. 52 A. Rogers, Global Warming’s Evil Twin: Ocean Acidification (Oct. 9, 2013), http://theconversation.com/globalwarmings-evil-twin-ocean-acidification-19017 (last accessed June 16, 2015). ! 23! ! ! ! ! !