Greenpeace urges leaders at COP30 to make fossil fuel firms pay for climate damages

Greenpeace urged world leaders and the Philippine delegation at COP30 this week to take a strong stance in making fossil fuel companies pay for climate damages. The group stressed the need for justice days after Typhoon Tino killed hundreds, followed closely by an even stronger super typhoon that made landfall in northeast Luzon Sunday, November 9, night.

“COP30 is a chance for Filipinos to obtain justice, and the window is closing fast. It must give Filipinos a fighting chance to survive the climate crisis with dignity and peace of mind,” said Virginia Benosa-Llorin, campaigner at Greenpeace Philippines.

“These global negotiations must deliver on making climate polluters pay,” she added, warning of more powerful storms if urgent action is not taken.

Flooded streets following Typhoon Tino’s deadly impact. [photo credit: Jilson Tiu | Greenpeace]

Greenpeace ties climate demands to back-to-back typhoons

Super Typhoon Uwan is the Philippines’ 21st storm in 2025, forcing more than a million people to evacuate. Typhoon-strength winds battered parts of the country even before landfall. Just days earlier, Typhoon Tino left at least 224 people dead and displaced more than 300,000, according to official counts. Transport and power systems were disrupted as authorities raced to move residents to safety.

“These back-to-back events show how quickly compounding risks escalate for already-hit communities,” Llorin said. She noted impacts on agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and local livelihoods, stressing that survivors should not bear the economic burden.

Emergency workers assist residents during pre-emptive evacuations in northern Luzon. [photo credit: Mark Alvic Esplana | Greenpeace]

Call for Loss and Damage Fund and domestic climate action

As COP30 opened, Greenpeace repeated its call for wealthy nations to fill the Loss and Damage Fund with grants, not loans, and to explore additional funding from major fossil fuel companies. The group also pushed for the passage of the CLIMA Bill, stronger climate-fund oversight, faster community-led resilience measures, and a halt to new fossil fuel expansion.

“We call on governments from around the world, especially the global north: choose people over profit. Make polluters pay,” Llorin said.