As the COP29 climate summit began in Baku, Azerbaijan, Filipino climate advocates joined international protests against fossil gas expansion, aligning with the “Global Days of Action Against Gas Expansion.”
On November 11, nearly 100 fishing boats staged protests at liquefied natural gas (LNG) sites in the Philippines, including Batangas City, Quezon’s Lamon Bay, Bataan’s Limay, Cebu’s Naga, Leyte’s Tabango, and Zamboanga City.
These demonstrations, organized by groups such as the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), spotlighted the dangers fossil gas projects pose to communities and the environment.
The protests targeted the ongoing global investments in fossil gas, which climate advocates argue contradict commitments made at previous COP summits to transition away from fossil fuels. APMDD’s Lidy Nacpil emphasized that these fossil gas investments compromise the health, lives, and environments of vulnerable communities, urging leaders to support renewable energy projects instead.
PMCJ’s Ian Rivera further condemned fossil gas as a serious health hazard and contributor to climate change, noting rising respiratory and cardiovascular diseases near LNG facilities in Batangas. He highlighted the urgent need for clean energy solutions, warning of worsening pollution and climate impact if reliance on gas continues.
These Philippine protests were part of a larger mobilization in countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Small fishing boats symbolized local livelihoods threatened by the fossil gas industry, which is often backed by funding from major economies. A recent study identified Canada, South Korea, and Japan as top financiers of fossil gas projects, with global gas-generated electricity expected to keep rising, fueled by new projects.
Protesters held placards with messages like “Don’t Gas the South” and “Gas Is Not Transition Fuel, Shift Directly to Renewable Energy.”
They demanded that governments halt fossil fuel financing, adopt a “Fossil Fuel Treaty” to phase out existing fossil fuel infrastructure, and ensure that wealthier nations provide climate finance for clean energy transitions in developing countries. Advocates also pushed for corporate accountability, arguing that oil, gas, and coal corporations should pay for climate damage.
This global action reflects rising frustration with what many see as insufficient progress at international climate negotiations, with activists calling for swift and equitable solutions to the climate crisis.
