Environmental groups are calling for the establishment of a scientific and human rights body to lead the implementation of a climate emergency action plan in the country.
“What else is there to consider when there is both a scientific consensus and a human rights imperative to declare a climate emergency in the Philippines? President Duterte must cede the current ‘business as usual’ pathway of leadership to a scientific and human rights body to implement a climate emergency plan,” Kalikasan national coordinator Leon Dulce said as Malacañang expressed the possibility of declaring a climate emergency.
Greenpeace country director Lea Guerrero also welcomed Malacañang's "openness" to declare a climate emergency.
"We believe that this declaration can provide a much-needed impetus for a whole of government and whole of society approach to cooperate and respond proactively to the biggest challenge faced by our country," Guerrero said.
The advocates warned that the track record of President Duterte in the past four years, which saw the Philippines become a consistent global air and marine polluter and climate impact-vulnerable nation, cast a shadow of doubt over his political will to declare a climate emergency.
“We should look no further than the heroism of Filipino environmental defenders as a blueprint of leadership for confronting the climate emergency,” Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines executive director Lia Torres said.
Torres cited the awardees of the 6th Gawad Bayani ng Kalikasan, composed of five individuals and three organizations, that fought to protect more than three million hectares of climate-critical watersheds and seascapes.
Mitzi Jonelle Tan, international spokesperson of the leading climate strike group Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines said “the declaration of a climate emergency shouldn’t stop at just stating the obvious that there is one.”
“There are clear urgent action points such as the need for a moratorium on big mines, fossil fuels, and other climate disruptive projects,” Tan added.
In 2019, the groups also noted the signing of the World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency by 11,000 scientists across the world.
The experts particularly called for the replacement of fossil fuel energy sources with low-carbon renewables, protection of remaining primary forests, and cessation of the over extraction of natural resources, among others.
Chuck Baclagon, coordinator of the 350.org Pilipinas said President Duterte must heed the leadership of the people who have fought in the climate frontlines long before him.
He cited that the Philippine climate strike movement launched the “Planetary Emergency Initiative,” which presents a blueprint for a just and green transition away from the climate and pandemic crisis.
The Planetary Emergency Initiative manifesto was launched during a recent climate strike in the University of the Philippines. It was signed by 32 youth and national organizations, calling for a “green new leadership” that will pursue a 10-point climate and planetary health action agenda over the coming months.
"Greenpeace will be happy to assist Malacañang in crafting the declaration and to ensure that the declaration includes necessary measures to ensure that people’s needs in the face of the climate crisis are prioritized," Guerrero added.
The group also believes that declaring a climate emergency is just a step to achieving climate justice for Filipinos, whose lives, homes, and livelihood are constantly at risk.
As the President recognizes the urgency needed in addressing climate crisis, he must ensure that the government’s actions must include not just demanding governments to strengthen their commitments to the Paris Agreement, but also holding fossil fuel companies, the world’s biggest climate polluters, accountable for climate impacts that cause harm to Filipinos," Guerrero said.