Senator Loren Legarda is leading efforts to once again bring to the fore the Philippines’ climate change advocacy at the ongoing 23^rd Session of the Conference of Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.

She heads the Philippine Delegation to COP23, composed of officials from Philippine Government agencies handling climate change-related issues, together with Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman of the Climate Change Commission.

The representatives of various countries, including the Philippines, are currently drawing up a comprehensive rule book that would facilitate the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change from 2020 and beyond.

Active involvement

“The Philippines’ active involvement in this year’s climate talks signifies our steadfast commitment to realize the principles that we have championed in the Paris Agreement, which we ratified early this year. This is yet again a manifestation of our commitment to climate justice—to make the developed and industrialized countries answer for contributing the most to global warming and climate change—as well as a testament of our solidarity to the call for greater and more ambitious global climate action,” Senator Legarda said.

Philippine Ambassador to Germany Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek, for her part, welcomed the country’s strong participation in COP23. “We are glad to welcome all our delegates, led by Senator Legarda and Secretary De Guzman, to Bonn. In the past few days, they have been engaged in a series of fora and workshops which are, of course, crucial in the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement,” the Ambassador said.

Together with other leaders and climate change experts, the Senator also had the opportunity to spell out the Philippines’ commitments and strategy on climate change on the sidelines of COP23.

National Adaptation Plan

During the side event, “Championing NAPs – Advancing National Adaptation Plans,” Senator Legarda shared that the Philippines has made significant progress in the development of a National Adaptation Plan (NAP) with the enactment of the “Climate Change Act of 2009” (Republic Act 9729), which mandates the updating of the National Climate Change Action Plan.

RA 9729 was principally sponsored and authored by Senator Legarda who chairs the Senate Committees on Climate Change, Foreign Relations, and Finance.

The Senator called for scaled-up, continuous, predictable, and adequate financial support for adaptation.

“Adaptation is at the very core of the Philippines’ climate change strategy. Like any other climate vulnerable country, we should be able to realize our full capacity to adapt to climate change. We have been championing for a more pronounced commitment from developed countries to finance adaptation in climate negotiations, as part of our demand for climate justice,” Senator Legarda said

For her efforts, the Senator was named NAP Champion by the UNFCCC Secretariat last November 13, alongside Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu (Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States) – a development welcomed by the Philippine Embassy.

“We are very proud that Senator Legarda was named NAP Champion, which recognizes her tireless efforts to push for decisive action on the issue of climate change, both domestically and in the multilateral arena,” Ambassador Thomeczek said.

Mr. Youssef Nassef, UNFCCC Adaptation Committee Director, noted that the designation of Senator Legarda and ‘Utoikamanu as NAP Champions is “the first in the process of UNFCCC,” signifying the urgent need to promote the importance of resilience and facilitate linkages with external contexts to climate change adaptation.

1.5 degree Celsius-limit

In her keynote address at the forum, “Innovative Climate Finance Strategies and Instruments by and for Climate Vulnerable Countries,” Senator Legarda assured the Philippines’ international climate allies that the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) would be compatible with the 1.5 ˚C-limit in the rise of global temperatures prescribed by the Paris Agreement.

“We continue to pursue a development path consistent with 1.5 degrees not only because we know it is the best way to protect our people and climate, but also because we know it will also spur economic growth. More than just transitioning our energy sector to clean energy-powered economies, the race to 1.5˚C-compatible economies presents to the ambitious an opportunity to transform development itself,” the Senator said.

Invest in mitigation

 Senator Legarda pitched for additional investment in climate change mitigation at the forum, “Asia-Pacific Climate Action: Making Finance Flows Consistent with a Pathway Towards Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate-resilient Development for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda.”

“We need to foster a policy environment that will raise the participation of the financial sector in low-carbon investments needs. One strategy could be to identify the best mix of lending instruments to attract low-carbon investments,” Senator Legarda said.

 

She likewise mentioned that she filed a proposed measure to establish environmental units in every banking institution. This will assess and ensure that projects, subject to financing applications as well as collateral offered as security, comply with Philippine environmental laws. She also stressed that climate action makes good development sense.

Federal Foreign Office Director General Ina Lepel conveyed the German Government’s congratulations as the Berlin ASEAN Committee (BAC) celebrates the 50^th Founding Anniversary of ASEAN.

In her speech during the ASEAN Day reception at the Singaporean Embassy last August 8, Director General Lepel underscored the close cooperation, not only between Southeast Asian countries and Germany, but also between ASEAN and the European Union.

She added that the EU is increasingly looking at ASEAN and she emphasized the need for close cooperation, especially on non-traditional security challenges such as maritime security, anti-terrorism, cybersecurity, and disaster management.

She also thanked the Philippines, the current Chair of ASEAN, for inviting the EU to the East Asia Summit in Manila in November, which Germany considers as an important step in deepening cooperation between the two regional organizations.

Dr. Thomas Gambke, Chair of the ASEAN Friendship Group in the German Bundestag (lower house of parliament), meanwhile assured the BAC of his continued support for efforts to promote further cooperation.

BAC Chair and Singaporean Ambassador Laurence Bay recalled the establishment of ASEAN in 1967 as a five-member organization. He highlighted the impressive development that the current 10 ASEAN Members States have achieved so far, with their combined GDP of approximately 2.6 trillion US dollars, and the region’s strong economic fundamentals.

Ambassador Bay also noted that the EU is ASEAN’s second largest trading partner, with more than 246 billion euros-worth of trade in goods and services.

The ASEAN Day celebration started with a flag-raising ceremony attended by ASEAN Ambassadors to Germany, and embassy officers and staff. The singing of the ASEAN anthem, “ASEAN Way,” was led by spouses Jose Maria and Mylah Rubio of the Philippine Embassy.

The event also saw the launch of BAC’s “Flavours of ASEAN” recipe book by Philippine Ambassador Melita Sta. Maria-Thomeczek. The book features a collection of some of Southeast Asia’s popular dishes and desserts, including the Philippines’ adobo and turon. Its publication was a project initiated and led by the Philippine Embassy during its Chairmanship of the BAC. A copy of the e-book can be downloaded from the Philippine Embassy website, www.philippine-embassy.de.

Some of the dishes and desserts in the book were served streetfood-style at ASEAN country stalls at the Singaporean Embassy’s garden. Some 200 guests from various German government agencies, parliamentarians, members of the media, foreign diplomats, and ASEAN embassy staff enjoyed dishes like Brunei Darussalam’s rendang, Cambodia’s khor ko, Indonesia’s satay lilit, Laos’ larb gai, Malaysia’s roti jala, Myanmar’s mohinga, Singapore’s chicken rice, Thailand’s Yam Thua Phu, and Vietnam’s spring rolls.

 

Reference: Inquirer.net, 3 May 2017