The Philippines government just opened up a new stage in the fight against climate change. They are using the tool of Climate Debt to take on big oil and the most carbon intense industries.
Climate debt provides a tool to tackle climate change in a just manner. It is the principle that the polluter pays, those who made their millions – often billions – from carbon intense industries are indebted to those suffering the consequences of this pollution. The repayment then invests in green energy, as a way to repay people that will not burn their fair share of carbon; and to mitigate against the life-threatening consequences of climate change, for instance, assisting climate refugees, strengthening sea defences and so on.
As DRUK has previously written, To tackle Climate Change we need to challenge the power of billionaires
- Studies show a person’s carbon footprint correlates with their wealth
- Research shows 90 companies are responsible for two-thirds of cumulative carbon emissions.
Based on the idea of Climate Debt the Guardian reported yesterday:
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World’s largest carbon producers face landmark human rights case
Filipino government body gives 47 ‘carbon majors’ 45 days to respond to allegations of human rights violations resulting from climate change
“The world’s largest oil, coal, cement and mining companies have been given 45 days to respond to a complaint that their greenhouse gas emissions have violated the human rights of millions of people living in the Philippines.
In a potential landmark legal case, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR), a constitutional body with the power to investigate human rights violations, has sent 47 “carbon majors” including Shell, BP, Chevron, BHP Billiton and Anglo American, a 60-page document accusing them of breaching people’s fundamental rights to “life, food, water, sanitation, adequate housing, and to self determination”.
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This is the first legal case of its kind brought by a national government of the Global South against the oil companies. Please spread this post and the Guardian article to raise awareness and solidarity.
If those worst impacted by climate change can recoup any of the profits from those who created the problem, this would be a huge step to climate justice and moving beyond a world threatened by climate change.
by Steve Rushton @2020Vision_SR