AEV Government Relations Team | June 14, 2017
Last March, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change restricting greenhouse gas emissions, putting the deal one step closer to ratification in the country. The Agreement aims to transform the world’s fossil-fuel-driven economy within decades and slow the pace of a global temperature increase to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius.
The ratification is expected to be well supported in the Senate and would allow the country to access to the Green Climate Fund, which aims to channel billions of dollars to help poor nations tackle global warming.
Country-specific initiatives
While not a major emitter, the Philippines promised to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030, a target that is achievable given the proper cooperation, according to Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña of the Department of Science and Technology. He said that his agency will intensify research on renewable energy, energy conservation and other areas that would enable the Philippines to address the impact of climate change.
The Philippine’s NDC (to be submitted before 2020) is still being finalized. The Climate Change Commission is crafting the NDC through a multi-stakeholder, whole of government process. It includes adaptation efforts that goes beyond mitigation efforts, financial, technological and capacity-building needs. It also aligns with national development objectives and priorities like sustainable industrial development, poverty eradication, and energy security, among others.
The Philippine Commitments are as follows:
- Despite financial limitations, the Philippines committed to the implementation of a national climate action plan and climate change integration in national and local development plans.
- Philippines will continue to cascade climate change mitigation and adaptation actions & invest in climate-resilient local economies, as per post-2015 UNFCC.
- Philippines is pursuing strategies to provide ecosystem services and green growth to address pollution and environmental degradation. GHG inventory management and reporting system is being developed to create a transparent, accurate and comparable baseline of emissions.
- Philippines submitted its Article of Accession to the DOHA Amendment of the Kyoto Protocol;
- Philippines to rally and urge Developed/Developing countries to take as “urgent” pre-2020 commitments.
Relevance to the Aboitiz Group
Aboitiz can align efforts related to our existing partnerships with various government agencies to work on common initiatives like the National Greening Program, Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Management Program, solid waste management, pollution control management, to name a few.
The Climate Change Commission calls on those part of the Energy Sector to start preparing a very good transitional plan that is moving towards the use of renewable energy. By 2020, all parties to the Paris Agreement are to submit their final NDCs and in the Marrakech conference (COP22), the thrust is now moving towards implementation for negotiations have been completed.
Our Transport sector ranks number one contributor to GHG emissions, with Energy as 2nd. The Group can help contribute to the national government’s commitment to the Treaty of Paris by either leading the energy sector and if possible, the transport sector to drive our national NDCs.
We can rally behind the call of moving towards climate-friendly systems and help achieve its goal of managing and reducing GHG or carbon emissions as indicated in the NDCs. Sustainability efforts can include developing a road map for the Group and identify/prioritize programs to help support our national NDCs.
By ratifying the Paris Agreement, we will be able to maximize our climate-adaptation and mitigation efforts, which are in keeping with our thrust for a better world.
References
Press Briefer on the Accession to the Treaty of Paris by the Office of the President of the Philippines, Climate Change Commission, Malacanan, March 13, 2017
United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change:
http://unfccc.int/paris_
United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change: Durban Climate Change Conference Nov-Dec 2011http://unfccc.int/meetings/
United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change: Marrakeck Climate Change Conference Nov. 2016 http://unfccc.int/meetings/
United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change: Treaty of Paris Climate Change Conference Dec. 12, 2015 https://unfccc.int/files/
Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: Outcomes of the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Marrakech (22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change –
COP 22) UN and Climate Change http: //www.un.org/climatechange/
Change Paris Agreement
Duterte signs Paris pact on climate change by Alexis Romero and Janvic Mateo (The Philippine Star) | Updated
March 2, 2017 – 12:00am
Business World by Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral http://www.bworldonline.com
After high-profile backlash, the Philippines’ president is softening his stance on a landmark climate deal by Christopher Woody http://www.businessinsider.