National activity: The Philippines Uniting partners in a vision for change Promoting collaboration to address the human rights impacts of climate change is a key priority for the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines (CHRP). This includes contributing to regional responses to safeguard fundamental human rights and supporting the efforts of the Philippines’ representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). Through this project, the Commission has documented insights and best practices from communities, businesses and the government to prepare a substantive proposal on the proposed framework on environmental rights in Southeast Asia. Every country faces risks from climate change. But the Philippines is in the world’s top five countries most at risk. The impact of climate change on human rights was the focus of a landmark inquiry by the CHR Philippines, with recommendations for government, industry, investors, courts and civil society. Watch the video Snapshot: Climate change, the environment and the Philippines ● ● ● ● Data over a 20-year period places the Philippines as the fifth most climate changeaffected country in the Global Climate Risk Index, despite accounting for 0.3 percent of global emissions. The Philippines faces some of the highest disaster risk levels in the world, and these are projected to intensify as the climate changes. With 50 percent of its 111 million population living in urban areas, and many cities in coastal areas, the Philippines is especially vulnerable to sea level rise. Following recent efforts, the Philippines is now recognised as a high-performing country in the global Climate Change Performance Index. Background In 2015, the CHRP accepted the Petition that served as the legal basis of a landmark inquiry into the impact of climate change on the human rights of the Filipino people. During the inquiry, the CHRP held consultations and public hearings across the country, as well as in London and New York. The National Inquiry on Climate Change (NICC) – the first of its kind in the world to examine the impact of ‘carbon majors’ corporations on climate change and human rights – received submissions from advocates, academics and legal and scientific experts. It also heard directly - 17 -