In flood-ravaged communities across the Philippines, the repeated devastation has left a deep sense of fatigue. This collective exhaustion is felt not just by individuals, but entire neighborhoods battered by relentless storms. Greenpeace Philippines activists highlight the urgent need for climate accountability as the nation faces ongoing extreme weather. The call to action is clear: climate polluters must pay for the damage they cause.
Jefferson Chua, a long-time campaigner with Greenpeace Philippines, shared the painful reality faced by many. “Fatigue” he said, is the word that captures the spirit of communities struggling with floods caused by intensifying storms and warming oceans—effects largely driven by fossil fuel emissions. Floodwaters have submerged homes, displaced families, and tested the resilience of volunteers, who continue to feed those in need despite their own exhaustion.
Climate Polluters Must Pay: A National Demand
Greenpeace staged a striking protest in a flooded neighborhood in Cainta, Rizal, placing a cardboard image of President Marcos in floodwaters. The banners declared, “This is the State of the Nation” and “Make Climate Polluters Pay,” underscoring the demand for urgent climate leadership in the upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Communities battered by recent storms are caught in a relentless cycle of destruction. Names may change—Ulysses, Ondoy, Paeng—but the devastation remains the same, a painful reminder that these extreme weather events are no longer anomalies but a growing norm intensified by climate change.
Global Spotlight on Climate Justice
The Philippines now holds a vital role on the world stage as the host of the board for the Loss and Damage Fund. This fund, established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), aims to support vulnerable countries facing irreversible climate impacts. Initiated at COP27 in 2022 after persistent advocacy by developing nations, it marks a historic step toward climate justice by addressing damages that can no longer be prevented or adapted to.
The Philippines was chosen among eight countries to host the fund’s board and interim secretariat. This responsibility carries both symbolic and practical weight, especially for one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. The next board meeting is scheduled for October, highlighting the urgency of turning leadership into action.
Funding Gaps Hinder Progress
Despite its promise, the Loss and Damage Fund remains severely underfunded. A 2024 policy brief revealed only $700 million pledged globally—just 0.2% of the estimated $400 billion needed annually to address climate loss and damage. This gap leaves countries like the Philippines struggling to cope with the increasing frequency and severity of disasters.
Chua emphasized that hosting the fund is a chance for the government to demand greater financial commitments and faster support. It also opens the door for stronger accountability measures targeting major climate polluters through legal and financial tools.
During the sixth board meeting in Cebu City, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla, speaking on behalf of the president, stressed the fund must be “swift, accessible, and human-centered.” He warned that continuing with business-as-usual only means more disrupted lives and lost opportunities.
Legal Pressure Mounts for Climate Action
Adding to the urgency is a recent advisory from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which affirmed states’ obligations to prevent environmental harm and compensate for climate-related damages. This ruling intensifies pressure on President Marcos ahead of his SONA.
Chua noted that this legal opinion urges the president to move beyond symbolism and take concrete steps toward climate reparations. Advocates hope the SONA will include calls for legal and financial mechanisms to hold the biggest polluters accountable for their historical emissions.
“[Climate] justice means reparations, compensation for the decades of suffering our communities have endured due to their emissions and inaction,” Chua said.
From Resilience to Frustration in Communities
Reflecting on recent relief efforts, Chua recalled a powerful image: a delivery rider on a bicycle navigating floodwaters on a main highway. What was once called resilience now feels more like frustration, highlighting the vulnerability of everyday Filipinos caught in the climate crisis.
While local efforts, such as barangay-led food hubs, have improved, national systems still lag behind the accelerating impacts of climate change. Chua also stressed the importance of recognizing less visible losses—mental health impacts, forced displacement, and the erasure of cultural identity.
“When an island in Bohol goes underwater, it’s not just land that’s lost—it’s an entire way of life,” he said.
For more news and updates on climate justice, visit Filipinokami.com.
