"First national human rights investigation into climate change impacts proceeds despite opposition from fossil fuel companies," 8 Dec 2016

The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHR) today initiated the next steps in the…national investigation into human rights harms resulting from climate change…A legal petition…triggered the national inquiry. The petition implicates 47…carbon producers including Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Total, BHP Billiton, Suncor, and ConocoPhillips. The CHR announced that it will start holding public hearings from April 2017, which will be webcast…Commissioner Cadiz, who is leading the national inquiry, acknowledged that some 20 companies have responded…Petitioners welcomed the CHR’s announcement as indicative of its continued commitment to proceed with the unprecedented investigation…In July, the CHR requested…companies to comment on…the human rights allegations made in the petition…Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies to share their responses. Only 11 companies volunteered their positions, with some challenging the investigation…“…Today, we got much closer to our aspiration of holding those most responsible for the climate crisis accountable, in order to prevent further harm,” said Yeb Sano, Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia…