In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan killed 6,300 – including Joanna Sustento’s mother, father, brother, sister, and nephew – and destroyed the city of Tacloban. The Typhoon ranked 8.1, on an intensity scale that only goes up to 8. Sustento blames climate change for the storm, and blames 47 of the world’s largest polluters for causing climate change. Sustento is on a journey to hold them morally and legally responsible. A human rights commission in the Philippines has held public hearings to determine if these companies should be held accountable, however, it cannot make legal rulings. Despite this, the outcome could set an important precedent. Legal recognition of climate change’s impacts is important for spurring further action and giving tangible points of accountability. None of the 47 companies participated in the Philippines investigation, and none of their representatives heard Sustento speak on the impacts of climate change and the direct actions of corporations on the lives of her family. The commission is holding hearings across the Philippines throughout 2018. An official report is expected in 2019.
