The country needs to start reinforcing climate justice in the country and one of the best ways to do it is to support the passage of House Bill (HB) No. 9609, the proposed Climate Accountability (CLIMA) Act, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said.
HB 9609 was introduced by Reps. Edgar Chatto, Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong, Fernando Cabredo, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Christian Tell Yap, and Jose Manuel Alba.
The CHR said the proposed CLIMA Act seeks to establish policies that would combat climate change, protect communities from related harms, and hold responsible parties, such as carbon majors, accountable and liable for their actions.
"If passed into a law, this bill will pave the way for the establishment of a legal framework which will ensure that remedies for climate-related human rights violations will be made accessible for every Filipino," it said in a statementy.
It warned that climate change threatens numerous human rights, such as one’s right to life, access to water and sanitation, food, health, and housing, among others. This is why HB No. 9609 signals a "crucial step" towards the advancement of both climate justice and human rights, it stressed.
"As such, governments and corporations both hold the obligation to respect, protect, and fulfil human rights in the context of climate systems, even within the context of international human rights standards," the CHR pointed out.
It noted that the filing of HB No. 9609 is in alignment with its National Inquiry on Climate Change (NICC) report, which encourages businesses to engage in practices that respect, protect, and uphold human rights in addressing climate change. The report also outlined the responsibility of the state to prevent harmful impacts to the environment through effective legislation, it also said.
"The Commission acknowledges the House of Representatives' efforts in filing this bill. We believe that HB 9609 is a crucial step toward both climate justice and the advancement of human rights. To ensure a sustainable future, we must tackle climate change to create a safe, thriving, and just environment for all generations," it added.