Greenpeace denounces Philippines’ environmental partnership with Shell
Manila, Jun 15 (EFE).- The environment advocacy group Greenpeace on Thursday held a satirical protest to ask the Philippine government to scrap its sustainable development agreements with the Anglo-Dutch petroleum company, Royal Dutch Shell.
The activists demanded the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to stop being complicit to the greenwashing and climate destruction caused by Shell’s fossil fuel operation in the Philippines.
The activists dressed as Shell executives, accompanied by a Grim Reaper symbolizing climate destruction, presented a mock “Certificate of Extreme Gratitude” and flowers to DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga at the central office of the agency in the country’s Quezon City.
Philippine and Shell petroleum in May signed a partnership, enabling the firm to execute several energy projects in the country in the coming years.
The partnership will be “focused on the protection, restoration, and regeneration of the country’s environment and natural resources,” Shell said in a statement released in May.
Greenpeace claimed that Shell’s massive carbon emissions have substantially contributed to climate destruction and the company was “morally responsible for human rights harms to Filipinos brought on by climate impacts.”
“This obscene partnership between DENR and Shell is a slap on the face of the millions of Filipinos impacted by the climate crisis,” said Greenpeace campaigner Khevin Yu.
“I strongly urge the Philippine government to fight for our fundamental human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by saying no to the greenwashing strategies employed by fossil fuel companies,” said Jairus Ismael Chiu, another environmental activist. EFE
fsg/bks/sc
