The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has urged the Climate Change Commission (CCC) “to adopt measures to help hold accountable businesses in violation of environmental and human rights laws.”
The CHR’s suggestion was aired as it welcomed the inclusion of an accelerated climate change agenda in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for the years 2023 to 2028.
The five-year PDP was developed by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) together with other government agencies and stakeholders.
Chapter 15 of PDP entitled "Accelerate Climate Action and Strengthen Disaster Resilience," identifies specific goals for communities and institutions to build climate resilience and reduce disaster risks, the CHR said.
It pointed out that the PDP program is crucial since there are only seven years left until the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meets its deadline to reduce global gas emissions by half in 2030.
In 2022, the CHR released an inquiry on climate change and made several recommendations to the government. These were collaboration of government agencies towards innovative climate solutions, adoption of a National Action Plan on business and human rights to support the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and a just transition towards an environmentally stable economy.
"CHR notes that developments have been made regarding the above-listed recommendations --PDP 2023-2028 includes integrated and comprehensive climate action between and among government, partners, and stakeholders.
In addition, the CHR said the five-year plan names strategies for enhancing ecosystem resilience and enabling transition to a ‘low-carbon’ economy.
It also recognized the CCC for “updating the National Climate Change Action Plan and the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions.”
With all these government’s efforts, the CHR said it will “continue to pursue meaningful collaboration with government actors by advising them on climate migration and adaptation through policy advisories, as well as in the development of laws and legal frameworks based on international climate agreements.”
It assured that the CHR “will also engage in active dialogue with businesses and the private sector in order to eliminate acts of obfuscation and conduct due diligence of environmental and human rights impacts, including redress mechanisms for victims of climate change-related events.”
It then pointed out the pronouncement of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during the UN General Assembly meeting on Sept. 21, 2022 – “inequalities and inequities within and among countries continue to persist, and they continue to demand urgent action.”
“Until climate justice is achieved, CHR commits to be faithful to its mandate, particularly for those severely impacted but have least contributed to the climate crises,” it stressed.
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