Our Children’s Trust Recommendations
It is essential that the Commission establish the standard for protecting current and future
generations of Filipino children from the dangerous threats posed, both now and in the future, to
their human rights and wellbeing by unabated climate destabilization. This standard must be
based on the best-available climate science, and not on political negotiation and compromise.
The Commission should therefore clearly state the scientific standard States and Carbon
Majors must meet to protect public trust and fundamental human rights: reduce dangerous
levels of atmospheric CO2 to below 350 ppm by 2100 in order to limit the long-term
average global temperature increase to less than 1°C above preindustrial temperatures.
Adopting less stringent standards, such as those contained within the Paris Agreement, would
deny all Filipinos the opportunity to fully vindicate their fundamental rights in the context of
climate change.
In light of the scientific standard above, the Commission should also state that the actions
and inactions of the Carbon Majors that result in the continuing dangerous increase of
atmospheric CO2 levels and further destabilization of the climate system are a violation of the
public trust and fundamental human rights of Filipino children and future generations.
After completing its investigation, the Commission should also state in its findings that in
order for the government of the Philippines to meet its obligations to current and future
generations of Filipinos under the Constitution, public trust doctrine, and international law, it
must:
1. Prepare an accounting and inventory of each and every substantial source of GHG
emissions within the Philippines’ borders, the emissions embedded in imported goods,
and the emissions from extraterritorial activities over which the Philippines has control;
2. Prepare quantifiable targets or a “carbon budget,” based on the above scientific standard,
for the total amount of CO2 emissions that can be released until 2050––ensuring that the
Philippines and each State does its share as a responsible member of the global
community to achieve global climate stabilization and reduce atmospheric CO 2 to below
350 ppm by 2100, limiting the long-term average global temperature increase to less than
1°C;
3. Create and implement a national climate recovery plan with: (a) interim CO 2 reduction
targets and mitigation actions tiered to achieving the Philippines’ carbon budget; (b)
priority actions aimed at (i) reducing greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning away
from the development and use of fossil fuels, and (ii) drawing down atmospheric CO 2 by
protecting forests, peatlands, grasslands, soil, mangroves, and other natural resources that
store carbon and engaging in other methods of natural carbon sequestration, including
reforestation and improved agricultural and forestry practices; and (c) safeguards to
ensure the protection of human rights throughout the implementation of the plan;
4. Keep all untapped fossil fuel reserves in the ground;
5. Take immediate steps to transition power generation to non-CO 2 emitting energy sources,
such as wind, solar, and geothermal; and
6. Seek all possible means of financial, technological and capacity-building support to
enhance the implementation of the Philippines’ mitigation efforts—including the
77
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents