By Chito Chavez

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) maintained on Wednesday that climate change remains a pressing issue in the country, citing it as a grave human rights concern.

The CHR said large fossil fuel companies are “morally responsible” to invest in clean energy.

In its probe, the CHR revealed the concerned fossil fuel companies in the world are “morally” accountable for the violation of the rights of Filipinos who are adversely affected by global warming, which is even exacerbated by their operations.

CHR Commissioner Roberto Cadiz noted the CHR was first to inquire and look into climate change as a human rights issue.

Cadiz pointed out that it is within the realm of the CHR to inform the public that climate change has relevance to human rights issues, citing that carbon-major businesses have a moral obligation to honor and respect people’s rights.

Expounding further, Cadiz insisted that carbon majors should invest fully on clean energy stressing it is imperative for them to switch or lean towards renewable energy.

However, the CHR pointed out that carbon majors cannot be held legally responsible for selling fossil fuel or “something that is not illegal.”

“We recognize that the global economy is still fossil-fuel dependent but we said if ever courts will find legal liability on the part of carbon majors, this would have to be based on acts of…willful obstruction of global efforts to transition the world to clean energy system,” Cadiz said.

A study cited the Philippines as the most susceptible country to hazards brought about by climate change.

The study disclosed that 47 percent of the country’s population is in areas highly exposed to climate hazards like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tropical cyclones, and drought.