The House of Representatives via the Climate Change House Committee chaired bg Cong. Edgar Chatto bares the plans and courses of action to take after approving House Resolution No. 1377 declaring an environmental and climate emergency in the country.
In a forum on Dec. 10, 2020, co-organized by the House Committee on Climate Change and Greenpeace Philippines, Chatto revealed that the Committee will be conducting a series of meetings in the coming days to cascade the notion of environmental and climate emergency from the national government agencies (NGAs) to the local government units (LGUs), ultimately down to the barangay level.
A clear environmental and climate emergency plan to address the climate crisis is expected out of the collaborative meetings as declaring an environmental and climate emergency is only the beginning, Chatto explained.
Meanwhile, lawyer Rachel Herrera, commissioner at the Climate Change Commission, said the Commission is looking at urging investors to invest on renewable energy, citing green financing as a crucial step to mitigate the vulnerabilities of communities to climate change.
Greenpeace, on the other hand, believes that actions such as the government laying down concrete plans against climate change, President Duterte calling for climate justice from wealthier nations which are responsible for most of the carbon emissions, and holding companies responsible for their emissions and carbon footprint are equally critical in moving forward towards achieving any headway to combat the effects of climate change.
“The Declaration must lead to clear and concrete measures that will pursue accountability from both carbon majors and industrialized nations’” Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Naderev “Yeb” Saño said.
During the forum which coincided with the annual commemoration of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly, Chatto pointed out “The climate crisis is not an issue about disaster events alone, but it is compromising human existence, the fundamental dignities of people: their lives, livelihoods, health, homes, all the basics that people need in order to survive.”
He stressed crucial takeaway of communities especially the vulnerable ones, which are most affected despite being the least contributor to carbon emission and the need to make use of scientific data to hold accountable those who are most responsible for the climate crisis.
According to Cong. Chatto, “The House Resolution declaring a Climate and Environmental Emergency is not a mere symbolic gesture but is an instrument that aims to ensure coherent actions in the executive and legislative agenda of government. [But] national actions, as we have envisioned, may also not be enough in order to fully address the climate emergency being experienced by our kababayans.”
House Resolution No. 1377, authored by Chatto and Deputy Speaker Rep. Loren Legarda, the first in national scope, is also one of the first declarations to recognize the role of corporations in the climate crisis. Among the key components of the resolution is to call on major carbon emitters, locally and abroad, to take responsibility for climate change, and invest more on renewable and sustainable energy.
The declaration also encourages local governments to issue climate emergency declarations. In the forum, advocates renewed the call for the need to seek accountability from corporations, such as but not limited to changes in business models, and commitments to redirect investments to renewable energy.
During the forum, Chatto, along with Masbate Rep. Elisa Kho, Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Climate Change, confirmed that the House of Representatives is in talks with some members of the Senate to file a counterpart resolution.
The forum, entitled “Far from over: How will the climate emergency declaration work?” gathered community representatives, Greenpeace Philippines Country Director Lea Guerrero, international experts such as Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel of the Union of Concerned Scientists, Atty. Carroll Muffett of the Center for International Environmental Law. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Climate Change Division Chief Albert Magalang also attended the forum that was moderated by Malou Mangahas.