Greenpeace urges Marcos to fast-track CLIMA Bill

FILE PHOTO: A thermal image (inset) shows surface temperatures reaching as high as 57.8℃ in Luneta Park. In 2024, the Philippines was gripped by severe El Niño, aggravated by the climate crisis. © Greenpeace

Greenpeace today called for the immediate enactment of the CLIMA Bill following the release this week of a report by Climate Central[1] which revealed that Manila endured heat that was strongly influenced by climate change for 69 days since December—making it the third worst affected out of all megacities in the world.

The report showed that one out of five of the global population (1.8 billion) experienced high temperatures made at least twice as likely because of climate change, every day from December 2024 to February 2025. It also highlighted the vulnerability of areas such as Zamboanga, Quezon City, Davao, Caloocan, and Canagatan, Cagayan, due to the unusual heat. 2024 was the hottest calendar year in recorded history.[2]

Greenpeace Philippines Climate and Energy Campaigner Khevin Yu said:

“Hindi na lang ito basta init. We’ve seen how the heat recently caused disruptions in schooling and the way it sent Filipinos to hospitals last year. It’s crucial for the government to ensure that the country is prepared for hotter months ahead—and potentially hotter years as we face the brunt of the climate crisis.

“At the national level, the government should institute preparedness measures to enable better adaptation and resilience to extreme heat events. This should include better weather forecasting systems that include early warnings for heat, and grants for farmers and fisherfolk to protect their harvest. Local government units should also focus on creating more green spaces which could serve as a refuge for people, particularly sectors vulnerable to heat: senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities.

“This report spotlights the fact that in the Philippines, when we’re not being battered by super typhoons, we’re being roasted by extreme heat. In order to secure Philippine communities from the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the onus is on the Marcos Jr administration to ensure climate justice is the top agenda of the government. He must put in place a comprehensive Philippine Climate Justice Agenda[3] that will exact climate accountability from fossil fuel companies. As a first step, the government should guarantee the swift passage of the Climate Accountability or CLIMA Bill.

“With the 2025 midterm elections coming up, Greenpeace is also calling on candidates both at the national and local levels to put climate justice front and center once they come into office.”

Notes to editor:

[1] People Exposed to Climate Change: December 2024 to February 2025 | Climate Central

[2] The latest State of the Global Climate report states that human-induced climate change has made 2024 the warmest year in the 175-year observational record, causing massive economic and social upheavals from extreme weather and the long-term impacts of record ocean heat and sea-level rise.

[3] A Climate Justice Agenda for the Philippines was drafted by Greenpeace Philippines to forward specific demands to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., including holding polluters accountable, securing reparations for loss and damage, and steering the country toward a sustainable and equitable future.