Environmental and democratic organizations in the Philippines joined the Global Day of Action Against Climate and War on November 16. They held a protest in front of the US Embassy in Manila, identifying the US as the number one culprit of climate change and wars worldwide.

The protest coincided with the opening of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. COP, or Conference of the Parties, is the annual meeting of countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The conference aims to unite countries towards reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by each nation, which contribute to global warming and climate change.

“The US, with a total CO2 (carbon dioxide) emission of 509 billion tons since 1850, bears the greatest responsibility for the primary impacts of climate change on our planet,” stated Kalikasan-Philippine Network for the Environment (PNE). This “carbon imperialism” of the US not only devastated ecosystems on the planet, but has also fueled conflicts and displaced millions of people from their countries and communities.

“The US military-industrial complex, the single largest institutional emitter of greenhouse gasses, continues to spew out more emissions than entire nations, in the name of ‘national security’ and dominance,” the group said.

The group labeled the Marcos Jr regime as an “willing puppet” of climate imperialism and the promoter of imperialist US wars in Asia.

“While our communities suffer from intensifying typhoons and rising seas, Marcos Jr. allows the plunder of our resources and the militarization of our territories to serve US interests,” the group stated.

Additionally, the groups condemned the regime for its inadequate response and lack of preparedness for the impacts of climate change.

“Small communities, which are merely victims of imperialist plunder, are always blamed. The ruling classes in various colonies and semi-colonies like our country collude with them,” People Surge alliance’s Eco Dangla said. He demanded the regime stop land reclamation, large-scale mining, and the militarization of rural areas, alongside halting imperialist plunder and the promotion of aggressive wars.

Student Christian Movement president and Kabataan Partylist nominee Kej Andres said the US views the Philippines as “real estate” where it can destructively extract natural resources with ease while using the country as a dumping ground for environmentally harmful surplus products. “We are also sold USA-made weapons being used to bomb rural and mountainous areas,” he said.

The groups insisted on immediate and substantial cuts in military spending and emissions by the US and demanded that the US pay full reparations for damages it has caused to colonies and semi-colonies over the past century. They called for an end to US plunder of Philippine lands and natural resources, which they say “undermined the sovereignty and ecological integrity” of the country.

“The presence of US military forces and provocative war games in Philippine territories must be categorically rejected, as they represent a direct threat to regional peace and environmental sustainability,” Kalikasan-PNE stated.