Roadmap and Initial Reflections on CHR’s Final Report in the Philippines National Inquiry on Climate Change

The Philippines Commission on Human Rights (CHR) concluded a seven-year inquiry finding that 47 'Carbon Majors' companies contributed significantly to global emissions and engaged in 'willful obfuscation' of climate science despite knowing the risks since at least 1965. The report details severe human rights impacts in the Philippines, including threats to the rights to life, health, food security, and water, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and Indigenous Peoples. The CHR asserts that these companies, and the financial institutions that fund them, have a responsibility to respect human rights and provide remediation for climate-driven harms. It recommends that states implement punitive laws for environmental harm, put a price on pollution, and transition to renewable energy by 2030 to meet the 1.5°C limit.

• The Philippines is the fifth most climate-affected country globally despite contributing only 0.3 percent of global emissions, meaning the burden of climate change falls disproportionately on its people.
• Climate change severely impacts fundamental human rights in the Philippines, including the right to life, health, food security, water, and livelihood. For example, rice production decreases by 10 percent for every 1°C increase in night temperatures, and Super Typhoon Haiyan caused 6,300 deaths.
• Vulnerable populations in the Philippines are disproportionately affected, including children (with 6 million affected by Typhoon Haiyan), women (with 80% of infant deaths in the 24 months after typhoons being girls), and Indigenous Peoples whose cultural identity is tied to the environment.
• The 47 'Carbon Majors' companies are responsible for more than 21% of all global emissions from cement production and fossil fuel combustion (approximately 368 GtCO2e).
• The Carbon Majors were aware of the climate risks of their products by 1965 at the latest, but spent decades conducting 'willful obfuscation' and climate denial campaigns to delay action, driven by greed rather than ignorance.
• Financial institutions and investors are held accountable for climate change due to their role in financing the fossil fuel industry and are urged to divest from fossil fuel assets.
• The Commission recommends that states transition to renewable energy by 2030 to adhere to the 1.5°C limit and establish legal frameworks to compensate victims using revenues derived from polluters.

APA

Muffett, C. (2022). Roadmap and Initial Reflections on CHR’s Final Report in the Philippines National Inquiry on Climate Change. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CIEL-Philippines-CHR-Roadmap-and-Initial-Reflections_May-2022.pdf

Chicago

Muffett, Carroll. Roadmap and Initial Reflections on CHR’s Final Report in the Philippines National Inquiry on Climate Change. Center for International Environmental Law, 2022. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CIEL-Philippines-CHR-Roadmap-and-Initial-Reflections_May-2022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Muffett |first1=Carroll |title=Roadmap and Initial Reflections on CHR’s Final Report in the Philippines National Inquiry on Climate Change |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=6 May 2022 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CIEL-Philippines-CHR-Roadmap-and-Initial-Reflections_May-2022.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{muffett2022roadmap, author = {Muffett, Carroll}, title = {{Roadmap and Initial Reflections on CHR’s Final Report in the Philippines National Inquiry on Climate Change}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/CIEL-Philippines-CHR-Roadmap-and-Initial-Reflections_May-2022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }