140 However, to date, there are no Philippine laws, policies, or jurisprudence on the intersectionality between business and Human rights, on the one hand, and climate change, on the other. The Philippines has a wide-ranging set of laws, policies, and institutions seeking to address the impacts of climate change. Both national laws and sectoral policies integrate climate mitigation and adaptation plans into their development plans. In fact, MargaretaWahlström, special Disaster Risk Reduction representative of the United Nations Secretary General, in a press conference said the country has “an excellent legal framework for disaster risk reduction and an excellent framework for climate adaptation.”606 Despite this, GHG emissions continue to rise, and thousands of Filipinos continue to perish, become sick, or suffer the loss of heritage and properties. The problem is found in the weak enforcement of laws. Even with lofty international pledges on emission cuts and dedicated climate legislation, implementation depends on the political will of the ruling administration–leaving much to the caprice of politicians. The Philippine government exhibits mediocre actions to meet the Paris Agreement climate commitments. Actions from the Executive are inconsistent with Legislative resolutions– with moves to reopen closed mines,607 continuous coal-based electricity generation, coal expansion,608 and public declarations by the President suggesting that international climate conferences are useless.609 The Commission thus recommends the following to the Philippine government: 606 Michael Lim Ubac, UN lauds Philippines’ Climate Change Laws ‘World’s Best’, Philippine Daily Inquirer, May 4, 2012, available at https://globalnation.inquirer.net/35695/unlauds-philippines%E2%80%99-climate-change-laws-%E2%80%98world%E2%80%99sbest%E2%80%99. 607 Department of Environment and Natural Resources, In the News: Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (2020), available at https://www.denr.gov.ph/images/Online_News_Monitoring/ DENR_Online_News_Monitoring_07_27_2020.pdf. 608 Department of Energy, Coal Overview, available at https://www.doe.gov.ph/coal-overview. 609 Pia Ranada, Duterte Slams Climate Change Conferences for Accomplishing ‘Nothing’, Rappler, May 31, 2019, available at https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-slams-climate-changeconferences-accomplishing-nothing.

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