The Integrity of Creation:

Human Rights and Climate Justice

A National Conference, July 29 31, 2015

Convenors: Association of Major Religious Superiors (AMRSP) National Secretariat for Social Action CBCP(NASSA) Philippine Chapter of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) Fellowship for the Care
of Creation Association Incorporated (FCCAI)Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) Philippine
Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) Philippine Misereor Partners (PMPI) Philippine Movement for
Climate Justice (PMCJ) Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) Medical Action Group (MAG) FIND
Bulig VisayasAsian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development

Climate change is one of the biggest and most challengingthreats to humanity today. It is already having
devastating impacts, and the people of the Philippines know this very well. It is multiplying the sufferings
of people already burdened by the injustices of hunger, dispossession and violation of human rights. It is
a crisis that also threatens to wipe out vast populations and profoundly change life on Earth.
Solving the climate crisis requires profound transformation ofenergy and economic systems locally,
nationally and globally. Like other global crises, climate change was generated and is being driven by
structures, policies and practices that sacrifice the well-being of the majority of peoples and
communities, as well as that of the environment and the planet, in order to pursue the accumulation of
wealth for the few. Those who are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, who are already
experiencing huge impacts, who are deprived of the means to deal with it, are the ones least responsible
for creating the problem.
The struggle against climate change is not just a struggle for survival, it is a struggle for human rights, for
justice, for a good quality of life for all peoples in harmony with nature. The struggle for climate change
is also a crucial race against time. The window for preventing the breach of tipping points and stopping
climate catastrophe is rapidly closing. In the meantime, governments have been failing to undertake
decisive, just and ambitious national and multilateral actions and powerful global corporations with
vested interests are blocking the rapid shift away from business as usual to a new and better world
where the needs of people and the health of the planet have primacy over profit.
2015 is a crucial year for the fight against global warming and climate change. It carries with it
tremendous opportunities to raise public awareness and understanding of the crises, to reach out to and
mobilize communities, movements and institutions to fight for its solutions and to achieve urgently
needed progress in securing these solutions.
Governments of all nations will be adopting a new international agreement on climate in Paris in
December at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC). This new agreement will have huge impacts and implications on humanitys chance for
limiting the increase of the earths temperature at the safest levels still possible - under 1.5 degrees
Celsius. The upcoming COP21 in Paris and the international meetings in preparation for it are vital
arenas of contestation for an agreement for global actions that are based on science, that are fairly-

shared, that protects and upholds human rights, that are just, that will ensure the safest future still
possible for all of creation.
The COP21 is generating media and public attention to the climate crisis, thus 2015 is also a very
important opportunity to raise other urgent climate policies and actions that are not dependent on the
international agreement.
And on June 18, the much awaited Papal Encyclical on Climate and related topics will be released and
will be a watershed of inspiration and guidance.

Objectives
Towards broader, stronger, more active engagement of human rights and faith-based movements
in the fight for climate justice
The recent history and continuing struggles of the Filipino people have been a testament to the very
important role of human rights and faith-based movements in heralding calls for social change and
inspiring and mobilizing citizens and communities. It is imperative that this role be fulfilled in its fullest
in what is a most crucial and urgent fight.
Towards a broader, stronger, more active engagement of human rights and faith-based movement in
this fight a National Conference on The Integrity of Creation: Human Rights and Climate Justice will
be jointly convened by key human rights and faith-based organizations and networks.
The Conference is envisioned to be:
1. A broad gathering of faith-based organizations and institutions, and of human rights groups and
movements
2. A moment of collective critical study and reflection on the climate crisis and its impacts and
implications for people, communities, the Earth and all of creation
3. An opportunity for starting a process of developing strategies for common and coordinated
actions for 2015 and beyond
4. A step forward in forging stronger linkages and participation in national, regional and global
climate justice movements

Participants
One hundred and fifty (150) participants will be invited, representing faith-based organizations and
human rights groups from all over the Philippines.

Dates and Venue

The Conference will take place on July 29 to 31. The venue will be announced shortly.

Methodology and Program

The key components will include plenary sessions, workshops, an exhibit, film / video showing, and
literature booths for dissemination of resource and campaigning materials.The program will be sent out
shortly.

Organizational and Logistical Arrangements

As vehicles for coordination and joint efforts, the following structures have been set up

A Convenors Group -- makes major decisions, receive reports, provide guidance to the
preparations
A Conference Secretariat involving people designated by the Convenor groups that carry out the
tasks of preparing the Conference

The funds for the conference is being jointly raised by the Conference Convenors.

Conference Subsidy and Registration Fees

The Conference Convenors will cover the following:
1. All preparatory expenses
2. Travel subsidies for those coming from outside of Metro Manila if needed
a. Travel Subsidy of up to 50% for those coming from Luzon via land travel
b. Travel Subsidy of up to 75% for those coming from Visayas, Mindanao and Palawan
3. Most of the costs relates to venue, food, conference kits
Conference Participants are requested to:
1. For those coming from within Metro Manila to cover their full travel cost and contribute a
conference fee of P300
2. For those coming from outside Metro Manila to cover part of their travel and make
arrangements for their accommodations (note: they make also ask the help of the Convenors for
arranging accommodations if they will have difficulties)