Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions Introduction STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) makes this submission in support of the petition by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement requesting an investigation into the responsibility of the ‘Carbon Majors’ for human rights violations or threats of violations resulting from the impacts of climate change. The purpose of this submission is to provide the Philippines Commission on Human Rights with an analysis of arguments concerning its jurisdiction to hear the petitioners’ request, on the basis of both domestic and international law. Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (petitioners) requested the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (Commission) to investigate ‘the responsibility of the Carbon Majors’ (respondents) for human rights violations or threats of violations resulting from the impacts of climate change.1 This brief supports the petition, putting forward arguments based on the role of human rights law in addressing climate change impacts, and on the Commission’s jurisdiction2 to hear complaints over all human rights violations contended, under both domestic law and international law. The brief firstly analyses in detail the Commission’s jurisdiction to hear the petitioners’ complaint, under both domestic and international law. Secondly, it considers the role of human rights law in addressing the impacts of climate change. Thirdly, it provides fundamental background on the interconnected nature of all human rights, and, fourthly, it addresses the human rights obligations of businesses. 4