MANILA–As COP29 opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, more than 100 fishing boats sailed to the seas and circled around liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in key locations of the Philippines on Monday, November 11, to mark the country’s participation to the “Global Days of Action Against Gas Expansion.”
The boat protests were held in Batangas City; Lamon Bay, Quezon; Limay, Bataan; Naga, Cebu; Tabango, Leyte; and Zamboanga City.
Organizers belonging to the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) said they wanted to send “a strong message to world leaders attending COP29 to the dangers posed to the peoples and planet of massive investments in fossil gas.”
In Batangas City, the fluvial parade protested in front of the Simlong-China Gas Complex Project, the Vires Floating LNG project, San Miguel Corp (SMC)’s 1700MW plant and SMC-Kepco Ilijan 1200MW plant. In Quezon province, residents aired their opposition to proposed fossil gas plants in Atimonan (2400 MW), Mauban (1000 MW), Pagbilao (1000 MW), and Tagkawayan (1000 MW). In Bataan, fisherfolks and community groups launched an action against proposed fossil gas plants in Limay and Mariveles.
“We from Global South movements are united in making this clarion call in time for COP29. Continuing fossil gas investments endanger both people and the planet and are contrary to the pledge of governments at COP 28 to transition away from fossil fuels. World leaders cannot ignore the undeniable impacts of fossil gas on health, lives, the environment, and future generations. We urge them to honor their decarbonization commitments, deliver climate finance, and invest in renewable energy solutions that serve humanity and not lead us to extinction,” said APMDD coordinator Lidy Nacpil.
“It’s alarming that wealthy nations and big transnational banks continue to finance fossil gas expansion in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. We unequivocally reject fossil fuel dependence and demand real, accountable commitments from these economic powerhouses to support a direct transition to renewable energy systems. Every dollar spent on fossil gas can be used to advance renewables like solar and wind power that, if developed, would meet our energy needs without the dire consequences of fossil fuels. Gas is not a bridge or transition fuel —it’s a big blow to the world’s future,” she added.
PMCJ national coordinator Ian Rivera pointed out that “fossil gas expansion is an extreme health risk for communities and is an environmental and climate threat.” He cited the case of Batangas City, which is home to five liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and is the proposed site of seven new LNG terminals and eight plants. “Relying on fossil gas isn’t just harmful—it’s fatal. We have filed an official complaint with the Department of Health showing a sharp increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases as a result of living near fossil gas sites, with children and the elderly hit hardest. Choosing gas is choosing a future where no one breathes clean air, and no community is safe. And gas hastens the warming of the planet and the intensification of the climate crisis.” Rivera stated.
Earlier, country-wide boat protests were held in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia. They were joined in solidarity by civil society groups from other countries such as Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, some countries in Africa and Latin America.
The mobilizations during the Global Days of Action spanned three regions – Asia, Africa and Latin America – which are affected by the gas industry expansion led and financed by the world’s top economies.”
Small and artisanal fishing boats – representing communities’ traditional source of livelihood – provided a dramatic backdrop against giant structures of gas plants and liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities.
A 2024 study identifies some of the world’s biggest economies – Canada, South Korea and Japan – as the “biggest backers of fossil fuel expansion,” providing at least $142 billion in funding for gas projects. The World Energy Investment 2024 report predicts upstream oil and gas spending to increase to 7% by year end.
Electricity generation from gas reached 40,102 TWh in 2023 from only 34,752 TWh in 2015. The upward trend is expected to continue as more and more new fossil gas projects are planned and developed. Data from the Global Energy Monitor shows that there are 541 GW capacity of gas power plant projects in the pipeline and another 210 GW capacity under construction worldwide.
Holding placards that read “Don’t Gas The South” “End Fossil Fuels” and “Gas Is Not Transition Fuel, Shift Directly to RE,” climate advocates involved in the ‘Global Days of Action Against Gas Expansion’ pushed for the following demands:
No new fossil fuels, no new finance public or private, no new approvals, licenses, permits, or extensions. The provision of sufficient, consensual climate funding to realise this commitment everywhere.
A rapid, just and equitable phase-out of existing infrastructure in line with the 1.5C temperature limit and a global plan, like a Fossil Fuel Treaty, to ensure that each country does its part.
New commitments for international cooperation to drastically scale up climate finance delivery and technology transfers to ensure renewable energy access, economic diversification plans, and Just Transition processes so that every country and community can phase out fossil fuels.
Stop greenwashing and claiming that carbon offsets, CCS, or geoengineering are solutions to the climate crisis.
Hold polluters responsible for the damage they’ve caused for the damage they’ve caused and ensure it’s coal, oil, and gas corporations that pay reparations for climate loss and damage and local rehabilitation, remediation, and transition.
End fossil fuel corporate capture. No to corporations writing the rules of climate action, bankrolling climate talks, or undermining the global response to climate change. (APMDD)
Photo by Jimmy Domingo
