International tribunal recognizes environmental violation in Verde Island Passage for fossil fuel expansion

MANILA, Philippines — Fossil fuel expansion projects along the Philippines’ Verde Island Passage, a biodiversity hotspot, were recognized as a case of ecological destruction during an international tribunal session in New York.

During Climate Week in New York, the International Rights of Nature Tribunal convened its sixth session on Sunday, September 22, to explore how countries can strengthen efforts to protect environmental resources, marine ecosystems and wildlife by holding key actors accountable amid an expanding fossil fuel industry.

The Philippines was featured as one of the tribunal’s case studies, as fossil fuel activities threaten the health and safety of communities near the Verde Island Passage. This includes poorer water quality, marine ecology and quality of life. 

Advocacy group Protect Verde Island Passage served as a case witness, with its lead convenor, Edwin Gariguez, testifying before the tribunal on the growing dominance of natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the Philippines’ economic activities.

“The right of people and nature to water as a source of life, and the right to be free from pollution are being violated by the chemical and thermal pollution from these plants,” Gariguez said.

The advocacy group stated that the Verde Island Passage is home to about 1,736 shore-fish species and around 300 to 500 coral species.

Gariguez noted that its diverse marine life has led scientists to refer to it as the "Amazon of the Oceans."

With the increase in fossil fuel plants, Gariguez warned of a higher likelihood of intensified shipping activities, freshwater shortages, loss of flora and thermal pollution that disrupts the reproductive processes of marine life.

Affected provinces. The provinces that are most at risk include Batangas, Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Romblon. These are all located in Luzon as the waterway can be found between Batangas and Mindoro, alongside the Mindoro Strait and Tayabas Bay. 

The Philippine-Misereor Partnership, Inc. (PMPI), a social development and advocacy network, informed the tribunal of an oil spill in 2023, which impacted over 200,000 people and resulted in environmental and