Ph seeks to host climate disaster fund
By Nidz Godino
"We urge partners from private sector, civil society, partner countries and governments and developing funding institutions to support Philippines in this bid...you have been there for meaningful collaboration with our government to tackle climate crises," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Philippines intends to host more than $400-million fund several countries have committed as compensation for nations bedeviled by extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.
FMJ voiced his administration's intention for the country to host "Loss and Damage Fund" in speech delivered for him by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. at opening of Philippine Pavilion, themed "Together Today for Tomorrow," at Dubai Exhibition Center .
Event was part of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), which runs until Dec.12.
Philippines has yet to officially bring up its intention before COP28.
In his message, FMJ also called world leaders to ensure prompt implementation of "Loss and Damage Fund" to help nations cope with effects of climate change.
"Philippines' call for immediate operationalization of this fund to assist developing and vulnerable countries to respond to droughts, floods and rising sea levels exacerbated by climate change," FMJ said.
FMJ cancelled his attendance at COP28, citing "important developments" in the case of 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militants in Red Sea.
Developed countries, led by US, want fund to be based in World Bank, but developing nations said this would make it hard for them to tap into funding.
FMJ said his administration has carried out transformative solutions to mitigate impact of climate change and address biodiversity loss and pollution.
"More than just environmental issue, for us, it is matter of survival, of justice and of protecting rights of our people… Philippine Development Plan sealed national development priorities on accelerating climate action and establishing sustainable and livable cities," he said.
Philippine government has allotted P453.11 billion for climate change adaptation and mitigation for 2023, while P889.65 million has been granted to local government units for climate change adaptation programs and projects under People's Survival Fund, he said.
FMJ likewise noted Philippines is heading toward low-carbon development.
"We are on track towards achieving 35-percent renewable energy share in power generation mix by 2023 through policy reforms that allow more investors for offshore wind and floating solar…we need to protect our forests, our oceans and our biodiversity," Marcos said.
Philippines, he said, remains as third largest geothermal power producer in the world, next to US and Indonesia.
"Philippines, being mega-diverse country, is home to 50,000 species of flora and fauna, 50 percent of which can only be found in the country. ..we are intensifying protection of natural resources to restore natural ecosystems and maximize ecosystem services that will benefit indigenous peoples and local communities," he added.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said approval of Loss and Damage Fund long being pushed by developing nations most affected by climate change is one of biggest achievements of this year's conference. Loyzaga heads Philippine delegation to COP28.
"There was expectation that countries would start with $200 million, but they raised over $400 million in pledges and more to come," Loyzaga said after leading opening of Philippine Pavilion inside Dubai Exhibition Center.
Loyzaga stressed fund would not only help vulnerable countries recover from natural disasters but would also enhance their resilience to climate change.
"As far as Philippines' leadership is concerned, we're very much recognized for loss and damage fund, we hope to be able also to have seat on that Loss and Damage Fund board in order for us to further pursue representation of vulnerable countries" Loyzaga told Filipino journalists.
COP28's host country, United Arab Emirates, has committed $100 million to the fund. Germany has also reportedly pledged $100 million, while European Union promised $275 million. US and Japan pledged $17.5 million and $10 million, respectively.
In 2022, Philippines topped World Risk Index, which measures countries' disaster risk from extreme natural events and effects of climate change.
In speech at Malacañang, FMJ underscored significance of COP28 to Philippines, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
"But we must also take lead when it comes to global move and global aspiration that most vulnerable communities around the world will somehow be assisted by developed countries when it comes to these measures to mitigate and to adapt to climate change," FMJ said.
In statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda lauded deal reached during COP28 climate change summit in Dubai for setting up of loss and damage fund.
"This is welcome development of decades-long battle on loss and damage as we continue our call for climate justice and demand developed countries to deliver on their commitments in Paris Agreement," Legarda said in statement.
She said development was made possible after countries like Philippines supported it when it was discussed in last year's COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
"I am aware our Philippine delegation has been working hard on putting loss and damage agenda on the table since last year's conference and pushing towards establishment of Fund in ongoing negotiations with G77, COP28 presidency of the United Arab Emirates and other stakeholders," Legarda said.
She said more industrialized countries should take lead in putting up fund for countries like Philippines, which have low contribution to greenhouse gas emission but are most vulnerable to drought, rising sea level and strong typhoons.
"Our stand is that developed countries most responsible for climate change must do more for countries least responsible, to pursue climate justice is to exact accountability from most responsible for climate crisis based on developed countries' historical responsibility for emissions," Legarda said.
In her taped speech delivered during High-level Dialogue with COP28 Philippine delegation in Dubai, Legarda thanked Climate Change Commission and Department of Environment and Natural Resources for presenting country's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 75 percent, as part of Philippines' obligations to Paris Agreement.
"In order to minimize scale and intensity of climate impacts, we must adapt to as well as leapfrog to low-carbon systems and transform our ways of living for better. .. Philippines has, for far too long, been face of loss and damage and climate risk and vulnerability," Legarda said.
Paris Agreement was adopted as legally binding treaty on climate change during COP21 in Paris in 2015.
It aims to keep "increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels" and "to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels."
No comments:
Post a Comment