Yolanda Aftermath: Climate Justice Group Demand the US to Immediately and Drastically Cut their Emissions

A thousand-strong rallyist led by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) coming from farmers, urban poor, youth, women and workers sectors trooped today in front of the US Embassy to demand to the US government that they immediately and drastically cut their greenhouse gas emissions – the main cause of climate change, to save more lives of the Filipinos and citizens of other vulnerable countries, and pay their climate debts for adaptation and loss & damage.

The action is in solidarity with the grieving and devastated Filipino sisters and brothers in Leyte, Samar, Northern Cebu, Northern Iloilo, and many more, who have experienced the wrath of Super typhoon Yolanda.

International news agencies and experts have described Typhoon Yolanda, or Haiyan (International name) as the strongest typhoon this year with peak winds of 315 kph (195mph). The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophisical & Astronomical Services administration (PAG-ASA) identified the typhoon as part of the broad impact of climate change. It is feared that the death toll might reach more than 10,000 people according to government estimate. If this is correct, Yolanda would be the deadliest natural disaster ever recorded in the Philippines.

According to Gerry Arances, National Coordinator of PMCJ, “This is, by far, the deadliest face of climate change. And it will only get worse. They, the rich countries, should now get their acts together immediately.”

According to PMCJ, excessive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are the main cause of the increase in global temperature, which is called Global Warming, and is causing climate change and its impacts. These excessive GHG emissions have gone beyond the normal levels of the planet can bear and is already causing ‘near catastrophic’ levels like the devastation brought by Typhoon Haiyan.
“The US, along with the European Union and other developed countries are the culprits. They have historically ‘polluted’ our atmosphere with these green house gasses, coming mainly from their dirty energy sources like coal, oil and gas power plants, and we have been bearing the brunt of its negative impacts!” Arances exclaimed.
According to the Second Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), from 1800 to 1988, Annex 1 countries (developed countries) emitted 83% of global GHG emissions. The US emitted 33% while EU released 26% of GHG emissions in the atmosphere. The study also showed that all developing countries combined including the Philippines only emitted 16% of global emissions.

Payment for Climate Debt

Lydia Ligahon, PMCJ Leyte-Samar Coordinator and Freedom from Debt (FDC) Eastern Visayas Chapter Secretary General asserted that “They should not only cut their emissions immediately, but also pay for their climate debts.”

“We, the devastated people of the Philippines, particularly of Leyte and Samar, demand to the US and other Annex 1 Countries that they pay for our losses and the damages inflicted upon us by Typhoon Yolanda and for our adaptation needs in facing succeeding typhoons and other climate impacts.” Ligahon further asserted.

Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which the Philippine government is a signatory or a party to, the Annex 1 countries or rich and developed countries led by the US and EU must not only cut their GHG emissions, but also provide climate funds for adaptation of developing and vulnerable countries, among others.

“Buwan-buwan nalang kaming mga Maralita ang apektado ng bagyo at delubyo ng pagbabago sa klima, kaya kami ay nanawagan ng hustisyang pangklima” (Every month, the poor communities are affected by the impacts of climate change and we are calling for climate justice), said Pedring Pedrigones, President of Kongreso ng Pambansang Pagkakaisa sa Maralitang Lungod (KPML), an urban poor national formation allied to PMCJ.

Action inside the UNFCCC COP19 Meetings

At the start of the UNFCCC 19th Conference of Parties (COP) meetings in Warsaw, Poland today, Filipino activists from Jubilee South – Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (JS-APMDD), along with other delegates and civil society representatives also organized an action inside the COP19 meeting venue to raise the devastated plight of the Philippines and demand for immediate and drastic emissions cuts by the developed countries.

Filipino activists exclaimed that “These developed countries should start acting on their responsibilities and drop their excuses. Our lives, and our children’s lives depend on it.”

JS-APMDD with PMCJ, along with other international groups and networks, have banded together to push developed countries to reduce their GHG emissions by shifting away from dirty and harmful energy sources, like coal, oil and gas, which are main sources of carbon dioxide emissions, and towards cleaner and safer renewable energy sources for peoples and communities. Today is the last day of the Global Month of Action on Energy or Reclaim Power campaign (October 11 – November 11, 2012)

“Enough with the hypocrisy. It is time to cut their emissions – cut it deep and cut it now!” Arances concluded.
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The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) is a broad movement consisting of 103 national and local organization from basic sectors, grassroots communities, the marginalized and most vulnerable, including women, indigenous peoples, fisher folk and coastal communities, farmers and rural communities, forest communities, formal and informal workers ,environmental groups, urban poor, and others in the Philippines that aims to lead the joint struggles, campaigns and actions in putting forward the climate justice framework as a fundamental element of solving the climate crisis.

Press Release
November 11, 2013