In September 2015, civil society groups and typhoon survivors brought a complaint before the Commission of Human Rights of the Philippines calling for an investigation into the responsibility of big fossil fuel companies for fuelling climate change that is resulting in human rights violations.

The Commission accepted the complaint and launched its investigation in December 2015, becoming the first national human rights body to officially take steps to address the impacts of climate change on human rights and the responsibility of private actors.

In July 2016, the Commission sent written copies of the complaint to the headquarters of the oil, coal, cement and mining companies involved and ordered them to respond within 45 days.