PMPI joins Global Environmental Advocates in fight against Fossil Fuels

The Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc. (PMPI) has voiced its solidarity with global environmental advocates during the 6th International Rights of Nature Tribunal session, held in New York City as part of Climate Week.

The session, titled "The End of the Fossil Fuel Era," marked a critical step in addressing the damaging impact of the fossil fuel industry on nature and human rights.

This tribunal brought together experts to examine global cases of fossil fuel-related environmental and human rights violations. These include false climate solutions, oil spills, destructive pipeline projects, and the creation of sacrifice zones—areas devastated by industrial activity.

The findings from these cases will be presented at the UNFCCC COP30 in Bélem, Brazil, in November 2025, as part of an advocacy push for a “New Pact with Mother Earth.”

Representing the Philippines at the tribunal, Fr. Edwin Gariguez, PMPI Chairperson and member of the Verde Island Passage (VIP) network, and Ms. Yoly Esguerra, PMPI National Coordinator, highlighted the dire impacts of fossil fuel activities in the Verde Island Passage.

Often referred to as the "Amazon of the oceans," the VIP is the world’s most biodiverse marine habitat, housing over 300 coral species, unique reef formations, and 60% of all known shore fish species. Despite its critical ecological importance, the passage faces ongoing threats from fossil fuel projects.

In February 2023, an oil spill off the coast of Oriental Mindoro caused an ecological disaster in the region. This was followed by another oil spill in Manila Bay in July 2024, underscoring the ongoing environmental risks posed by the fossil fuel industry.

Additionally, Batangas province, which surrounds the Verde Island Passage, has become a focal point for liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion, with several gas plants and terminals either operational or under construction.

Fr. Gariguez emphasized the need for greater accountability, stating, “Corporations and the government must be held responsible for the harm caused by the oil spills and the looming threats posed by LNG expansion in the Verde Island Passage. The environment and local communities cannot continue to bear the brunt of corporate negligence.”

Ms. Esguerra, in her remarks, called for more than just efforts to control carbon emissions, stressing the importance of protecting the planet’s natural systems. “The issue isn’t solely about reducing carbon emissions, but also about safeguarding the natural systems—such as forests, soils, and oceans—that regulate the Earth's climate and absorb atmospheric carbon.”

The PMPI continues to lead the charge in advocating for the Rights of Nature, a campaign that seeks to recognize nature’s inherent rights to exist, thrive, evolve, and regenerate.

The Rights of Nature initiative builds on the work of the International Tribunal of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), a non-binding platform that aims to push for policy changes by amplifying critical environmental issues.

Under the banner “No Climate Justice Without Rights of Nature,” the tribunal advocates for a paradigm shift that places nature at the center of climate solutions. This holistic approach is seen as essential to addressing the current climate and ecological crisis.

PMPI is urging the Philippine government and the international community to take the following actions:

• Hold fossil fuel companies accountable for environmental damage and human rights violations.
• Implement a robust protection plan for the Verde Island Passage and other vital ecosystems.
• Support community-managed protected areas and provide livelihood assistance and long-term recovery plans for impacted communities.
• Promote a just transition to renewable energy, opposing false solutions and technological fixes that fail to address the root causes of the climate crisis.

The tribunal’s findings aim to amplify the voices of those most affected by the climate crisis, ensuring that nature and its defenders receive the justice they deserve.