Amicus Curiae Brief presented by ClientEarth 21 November 2016 links between the exercise of fundamental civil and political rights and the changes in the physical environment caused by human greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the Commission should directly consider expert evidence from climate scientists studying the likely physical impacts of climate change in the Philippines. 37. Accordingly, if the Commission accepts that climate change can affect and interfere with fundamental civil and political rights in the Philippines, then it is empowered to investigate the causes of that interference under the Philippines Constitution. Furthermore, the Philippines is bound by its own human rights obligations to offer a remedy to victims of human rights violations.32 Based on this assessment, the Commission unambiguously possesses the necessary subject matter jurisdiction to consider the Petition. 3.4 Prayer for relief sought 38. Importantly, the Petition recognises the scope and nature of the powers and functions of the Commission and does not request that the Commission exercise any judicial power in respect of the human rights violations or threats of violations alleged in the Petition. The Petitioners simply request the Commission make a finding of factual causation in respect of the Carbon Majors contributions to climate change, and their consequent responsibility for human rights violations and/or threats of violations in the Philippines. 32 OHCHR, Understanding Human Rights and Climate Change, Nov 2015, available at http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Issues/ClimateChange/COP21.pdf 20