New study shows typhoon season made worse by climate change: Greenpeace Philippines responds

Manila — A study[1] by World Weather Attribution found that climate change made November’s typhoon series in the Philippines nearly twice as likely and increased the likelihood of at least three Category 3-5 typhoons hitting the Philippines in a year by 25%.

Reacting to this, Jefferson Chua, Greenpeace Southeast Asia climate campaigner said:

“Scientists are quick to conclude what policymakers are too slow at acting on: killer typhoons are made worse by climate polluters like Shell, Total and other oil and gas firms. Big Oil made 13 million Filipinos anguish in an unprecedented series of six typhoons within just 30 days. To help reduce the impacts of another conveyer belt of typhoons, the Philippine government must maximize its role as host of the UN climate loss and damage fund and find a way to make developed countries pay for the damage they have done as well as compel oil and gas companies to stop drilling and start paying.”

The report highlights that climate change – caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels – will result in more intense and unpredictable extreme weather events such as typhoons and heatwaves in the Philippines. In light of the series of cyclones and significant loss of life, the study recommends preparing for more back-to-back events in the future. It considered tropical cyclones Trami, super typhoons Kong Rey and Usagi, typhoons Xinying and Toraji, with costs estimated at half a billion US$[2] – from damages to public infrastructure and agriculture. This does not include other costs such as loss of working days, destroyed homes, appliances and cars – are borne largely by ordinary people.

The study’s release comes just days after Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra delivered the Philippines’ statement at the hearings for the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJAO) on climate change in The Hague, Netherlands. Guevara called for the World Court and the international community to adopt an environmental legal remedy[3] to assist climate-vulnerable nations, emphasizing that states must ensure that activities in their territory cause no harm to other states, and that they regulate public and private entities in their jurisdiction to ensure this. He also stressed that when wrongful acts are committed, states are obligated to provide full reparations.

In a parallel event in The Hague, community representatives from the Philippines, Pacific Islands, and other countries launched The People’s Museum of Climate Justice[4] exhibiting “objects of memory,” poetry, and artwork from climate impacts survivors worldwide. The initiative aims to amplify stories of hope and courage from communities in global climate discussions.

Tony Abletes, a youth leader from Salcedo, Eastern Samar, Philippines – an area frequently battered by typhoons – said:

“The climate crisis is most felt in our communities, and these consequences stem from actions we had little to do with. We’ve brought our stories here in The Hague because they must be central to climate discussions, along with our urgent call for states to make polluters pay for loss and damage.”

Making climate polluters pay is the most popular policy option among Filipinos, according to a study[5] commissioned by Greenpeace International for the “Stop Drilling Start Paying” global campaign. Greenpeace Philippines is calling on governments to make oil and gas companies stop expanding, resist their intimidation, and force them to pay for the climate damages already felt by people worldwide, especially the most at risk of climate impacts.

Link to PHOTOS (Museum of Climate Justice highlights the both the plight and the strength of communities impacted by the worsening climate crisis)

Notes to Editors:

[1] Climate Change supercharged late typhoon season in the Philippines highlighting the need for resilience to consecutive events

[2] National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council

[3] At World Court, Philippines urges adoption of environmental legal remedy

[4] The People’s Museum of Climate Justice

[5] Who pays for climate damages? Making Big Oil pay is most popular policy option, research finds