The Philippines will submit by the end of the month its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) in support of a legally binding agreement among heads of state during the forthcoming 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris, France, this December.
“Even if our contribution [greenhouse gas] is small, we will still submit our INDC,” Secretary Lucille Sering, vice chairman of the Climate Change Commission (CCC), said.
Sering said the country’s submission of INDC will show that the country is determined to reduce its carbon footprint and help in the global effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, which scientists said led to climate change.
“We want to show that even if our contribution is small we are willing to shift to environment-friendly production,” she added.
Sering was among the guests during the media launch of the COP21: The Road to Paris Starts in Manila organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines last Thursday to drumbeat the forthcoming UN climate meeting.
The weeklong activities involving various non-governmental organizations, experts, students, artists and members of academe will highlight the role of civil-society organizations in pushing for a legally binding agreement to fight global warming and climate change.
French Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Laurent Legodec led the media launch together with Assistant Secretary Sixto Dantes, more popularly known as actor Dingdong Dantes, representing the National Youth Commission (NYC); singer Noel Cabangon who is also vice president of the group Dakila; and Kim Atienza, ABS-CBN’s weather anchor.
Also called “Climate Week”, the holding of the weeklong event takes inspiration from the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, an appeal directed to the international community to cooperate in addressing climate change and to support the conclusion of an ambitious universal and legally binding agreement to limit global warming to below 2 degrees during the COP21 meeting.
The Climate Week signals the start of a massive awareness campaign to be launched by the Embassy of France to the Philippines, the CCC and NYC, to involve various stakeholders in the Philippines in the discussions leading to COP21.
France, which will be hosting COP21, is responsible for facilitating negotiations and consultations between governments and stakeholders in preparation for the conference.
Through Climate Week, Legodec said they hope to encourage discussions among various stakeholders and rally support behind a legally binding agreement that will mitigate climate change.
It will be recalled that the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change was launched by French President François Hollande together with President Aquino at the Malacañang Palace Grounds during his state visit to the country on February 26.
“When President Hollande and President Aquino launched the Manila Call to Action in February, we recognized this as the start of the road to Paris, toward a better and more sustainable planet for future generations,” Legodec said.
Regardless of race, religion or generation, he said climate change affects all people.
“This is why our conclusion of this climate agreement should not only in the hands of heads of state and policy-makers. Everyone should do their part in raising awareness and contributing to discussions on the climate, and a large part of this lies with civil society,” he said.
Dantes lauded the initiative of the French Embassy to the Philippines, underscoring the urgent need to act together, including the Filipino youth, to fight climate change, starting with raising their consciousness on climate issues.
“There is an urgent need to make the youth realize the importance of their commitment, cooperation and active participation in promoting a climate-resilient lifestyle and to understand the salient points of the Philippine position on the call to climate action,” Dantes says.
Atienza for his part said as weatherman for ABS-CBN for more than 10 years, he bear witness to the dramatic change in the country’s weather patterns brought about by climate change.
“In 2004 we only experience typhoons moving as fast as 140 kilometers per hour. Lately typhoons are becoming stronger, moving at 200 kph. The last time, we had typhoons threatening to hit the country at 275 kph, equivalent to Category 5 hurricane. Luckily, it was dissolved,” he said.
A resident of Malate, he also said that he witnessed how climate change has caused severe flooding in their community. “Before, flooding in our area is knee-deep. Lately, it has reached waist-deep. I fear that in 10 years, flooding will be permanent in our community because the flood is aggravated by saltwater. The sea level is rising,” he said.