A sustainability think-tank on Wednesday said the Philippine government cannot claim compliance with international human rights standards unless it stops the expansion of fossil fuels in the country, which threatens vulnerable communities and ecosystems and undermines the Philippines’ climate ambitions.

This week, the Philippines is undergoing a country review under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) at the United Nations Human Rights committee’s 77th session.

“The Philippines’ status as a climate-vulnerable country is an impetus for our government to ensure an urgent and just transition to renewable energy, in line with promoting a healthy environment for its people and climate resilience. Instead, the government champions ambitious plans to advance fossil gas,” said Gerry Arances, Executive Director of the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), who is on the ground engaging the ESCR committee session.

Much of this expansion is located in the biodiversity hotspot Verde Island Passage (VIP). A marine corridor home to the greatest concentration of shorefish species in the world, the VIP unfortunately also hosts 5 of 6 currently operating gas plants nationally, 2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals, and over a dozen other proposed projects.

“The gas buildout risks irreparable damage to the VIP’s coastal environments, disruption of habitats due to increased maritime traffic, displacement of communities, pollution, and heightened possibilities of toxic cargo spills,” explained Arances.

The session comes just days ahead the second year since a tanker carrying 900,000 liters of industrial fuel caused a devastating oil spill in the VIP. The sunken MT Princess Empress was owned by RDC Reield Marine Services and chartered by a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation, which is also responsible for the largest share of proposed gas power in the VIP and other parts of the country.

“This catastrophic oil spill highlights the consequences of the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. Millions of Filipinos depend on VIP for their sustenance and livelihood. Fossil gas expansion and other harmful operations are simply incompatible with the fundamental human right to a clean and healthy environment and a dignified and secure life,” Arances said.

The plight of the VIP was brought to the attention of Philippine government representatives during the formal session on the evening of February 18 by Germany-based ESCR committee member Michael Windfuhr, whose question was insufficiently addressed during the session.

Arances also emphasized that the gas buildout gravely undermines the Philippines’ climate ambitions and ability to align to the 1.5°C climate goal, including its commitment to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and avoidance of 75% in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

“Enough is enough. We will not allow our government to stand by as polluters sacrifice our environment, communities, and our climate survival. We must protect the Verde Island Passage, halt all new gas expansion projects, and commit to a rapid and just transition to 100% renewable energy,” said Arances. 

Concerns related to the VIP and fossil gas expansion in the Philippines raised by CEED and partners are also set to be considered for the 58th Session of the Ocean and Human Rights Council in March 2025.