PRESS RELEASE
DEC 7, 2023

Civil society groups in the Philippines are preparing mobilizations in key cities on Saturday, December 9 as part of more than 300 actions all over the world to demand urgent climate action while governments are meeting at the 28th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Thousands of members of grassroots movements, faith-based groups, non-government organizations and multi-sectoral alliances will converge in Quezon City. Simultaneous mass actions will also be held in at least 55 areas across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The rallyists said they aim to contribute to the “chorus of global voices” putting pressure on governments and decision-makers as COP28 enters its crucial days of negotiations in Dubai.

Lidy Nacpil, coordinator for Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), said that civil society “must escalate pressure to compel governments at the COP28 negotiations to take forward real solutions to the climate crisis.”

“Governments have been failing to fulfill their duties to take urgent action to solve one of the greatest crises threatening the survival of people and communities all over the world. We are especially demanding the governments of the world’s wealthiest countries – the Global North – who have contributed the most to the problem of climate change to stop evading their responsibilities. They present themselves as climate champions yet continue to support the expansion of the fossil fuel industry and promote false solutions that create more harm. They refuse to fully deliver on their obligations to provide climate finance for developing countries – the Global South – as part of their fair share of climate solutions and reparations for climate impacts.”

Joining the APMDD-led demonstrations are the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Ecological Justice Interfaith Movement (ECOJIM), Oriang Women’s Movement, Sanlakas, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), Laudato Si Movement Pilipinas, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP), Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), K4K, Zone One Tondo Organization (ZOTO), Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (AMA), Alyansa Tigil Mina, Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA), Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), PS Link, Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita sa Lungsod (KPML), Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), 350(dot)Org, Youth Advocates for Climate Action-Philippines (YACAP), Samahan ng Progresibong Kabataan (SPARK), Save Philippines (SAVE PH), Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI), and National Congress of Labor (NCL)

Representatives from religious groups such the Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Caritas Philippines and its Social Action Centers, and the Conference of Major Superiors in the Philippines (CMSP) will likewise be joining the actions. Their support will be symbolized by the ringing of church bells across the country to inform and invite their congregations to join the important Global Day of Action for Climate Justice.

Ian Rivera, the National Coordinator of PMCJ, said “The Philippines and all countries must urgently and rapidly undertake an equitable and just transition away from fossil fuels towards 100% renewable energy systems, while empowering and enabling communities to build resilience in the face of intensifying impacts of global warming and climate change. The world’s wealthiest biggest polluter-countries must deliver climate finance for this transition, as well as for adaptation and resilience building measures in the Global South. And in addition, pay reparations for the loss and damage suffered by people and communities.”

The COP28 is expected to deliver clear agreements on fossil fuel phase out, on the targets for the acceleration of renewable energy development, on just transition programs, and the scaling up of climate finance delivery including pledges for the Loss and Damage Fund.

Lawyer Aaron Pedrosa, secretary-general of Sanlakas, pointed out: “The Philippine government is not exempt from obligations to solve the climate crisis. We don’t need false solutions like fossil gas, ammonia co-firing, and nuclear energy when we can and should transition directly into renewable energy. We’ve already proven that it works. It’s up to the government to follow up with policies that ensure the welfare of communities and manage the phaseout of fossil fuels during this transition.”

The actions in the Philippines and around the globe are calling for “system change to prevent catastrophic climate change.”

The December 9 global actions are also raising the call for a ceasefire in Palestine. “As human beings, we cannot be silent about these atrocities and genocidal attacks against the people of Palestine. COP28 is the first global gathering of nations since the escalation of violence and bombings on Gaza last October. This is a vital moment to stand in solidarity. There is no climate justice without human rights,” said Lidy Nacpil.

Philippine civil society groups endorse the Declaration and Call to Action made by the global alliance COP28 Coalition They outlined the following demands:

1. Immediate ceasefire, a stop to the blockade and occupation of Palestine, and the end to apartheid and colonialism.
2. Rapid, just and equitable phaseout of all fossil fuels, including exploration, extraction, transportation, production and consumption, and a direct, rapid, equitable and just transition to democratic, renewable energy systems for people and communities that builds energy sovereignty.
3. Fulfillment of obligations to deliver adequate, new, additional, non-debt creating, conditionality-free climate finance for mitigation and just transition, adaptation and Loss and Damage as part of Reparations.
4. Cancelation of unsustainable and illegitimate debt being collected from the Global South.
5. Immediate end to greenwashing and false, harmful and unproven “solutions” which serve as dangerous and deceptive distractions including geoengineering, carbon capture and storage technologies, and carbon markets.
6. Building of just, resilient and sustainable food systems; upholding and protecting people’s right to food and food sovereignty.
7. Respect for and protection of human rights – of civil and political rights, of economic, environmental, social and cultural rights including the right to public services and social protection for all, the right to clean, health and sustainable environment, the rights ​​ of all workers including migrant workers, the rights of peasants and fishers, the rights of women, the right to gender diversity, the rights of blacks and all people of color, the rights of youth and children the rights of Indigenous Peoples.
8. Support for Indigenous Peoples in the protection of their Inherent Rights and Responsibilities, UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, their Self Determination, Collective rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent, and Indigenous Sovereignty based on Traditional Indigenous Knowledge.
9. The fulfillment of gender justice as an integral part of climate justice; Advance on gender-equality and care economies that prioritize well-being, care and authentic education over profit and address ongoing economic disparities and social injustices resulting from colonial, capitalist and patriarchal legacies where socially constructed roles and sectors prevail.
10. Defund and divest from the destructive and heavily polluting military industrial complex; and divest from police- and military-reliant climate policy, and invest in climate emergency care.
11. End Climate Colonialism
12. Equitable and just transition from a capitalist and extractivist economic system to post-carbon local, national and global economic systems that are inclusive, sustainable, democratic and uphold all human and labor rights.

(Photos: Jann Conrad Bonifacio)