Commission on Human Rights

Honorable Chairman Jose Luis C. Gascon and Fellow Commissioners Commission on Human Rights SAAC Bldg., UP Complex Commonwealth Ave. Diliman, Quezon City Philippines 7 November 2016 Honorable Chairman Gascon and Honorable Commissioners Dumpit, Pimentel-Gana, Tanodra-Armamento, and Cadiz: We congratulate you for opening an investigation into the potential human rights violations suffered by Filipinos who have been impacted by the changing climate and ocean acidification. Communities in the Philippines and around the world are suffering grave injustices. Scientists have confirmed that the severe changes to the global climate are due to human activities – including production and use of fossil fuels. Some entities and individuals have profited greatly by selling these resources, while others are suffering the damages. It is appropriate and just for this Honorable Commission to open an investigation into human rights violations suffered by citizens of the Philippines. If the Commission does not undertake this investigation, who will? The human rights impacts are serious, and to leave citizens of the Philippines with no one willing to hear their complaints would harm Filipinos and create a terrible precedent for people everywhere who are suffering climate injustices. The damages caused by climate change, including grave human rights violations, are unique in that they are caused by the actions of entities situated in many countries, yet the impacts are being felt at varying degrees around the world. There is no single institution that is the proper forum for victims to lodge complaints. Instead, addressing this global crisis will require a variety of institutions, including your Commission, to identify appropriate remedies for impacts that are being felt locally. The Commission on Human Rights is best situated to assess the violations of human rights of Filipinos. If the Commission should determine it does not have the authority to undertake this investigation, victims will not be heard and human rights violations will continue unchecked.