Greenpeace Philippines on May 28 has challenged the government to demand reparations from fossil fuel companies as the country prepares for another strong typhoon.

The Philippine government must demand reparations for losses and damages… Governments around the world must ensure that these companies undertake a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels, and pay up for their role in climate disasters,” said Jefferson Chua of Greenpeace. 

Chua said the country is “in a constant state of climate emergency,” adding that the occurrence of extreme weather events such as supper typhoons is the “Philippines’ new normal.”

He said this “new normal” is on top of “longer-term, slow onset impacts” of climate change “such as drought, sea level rise, and diminishing resources.”

The country is bracing for Typhoon Betty (international name: Mawar), which is expected to bring strong winds and heavy downpours that may cause floods and landslides in the coming days.

At least 20 tropical cyclones affect the Philippines yearly. Experts said that with climate change warming ocean temperatures, typhoons are getting more frequent and more intense. 

Chua said dirty energy players are “responsible for most of the carbon emissions,” which aggravate the impacts of the climate crisis that greatly affects poor and vulnerable communities.  

He lambasted the expansion of fossil fuel operations in the country, which he said will only worsen the present climate situation.

Chua said communities that are the “least responsible and least able to cope are the ones who bear the brunt” of the worsening climate crisis. 

“They are burdened not only with preparing for escalating impacts but also dealing with the anxiety of an uncertain future. But even while communities are doing their utmost so that they can ensure their own future, they are rendered disenfranchised because of the willful inaction of those that have the most responsibility to change,” he said.