Locsin speaks with US special envoy Kerry on climate change
By Roy Mabasa
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. on Friday spoke over the phone with United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry to discuss major initiatives to address the climate crisis.
In a statement issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, it said Locsin and Kerry both recognized that climate change is one of the key areas where the Philippines and the United States can cooperate more closely to strengthen their bilateral relations and their alliance.
During the phone conversation, Locsin congratulated the United States for successfully hosting the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate held on April 22, 2021.
Both leaders agreed to promote collaboration on the climate crisis the whole world is facing through various regional and multilateral fora, especially through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
On the part of the Philippines, Locsin emphasized that climate change is one of the core priorities of the government, which is committed to advancing climate justice.
Last month, the Philippines has submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) with a target of 75 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction and avoidance by 2030.
In its submission to the UN climate body, the Philippines noted that the country’s loss and damage from extreme weather events are increasing at an unacceptable rate, reaching 4percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2013 due to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan). It added that the successive typhoons in October and November 2020 alone resulted in approximately $852 million in losses and damages in agriculture and infrastructure.
In the energy sector, Super Typhoon Goni alone destroyed USD 56.3 million worth of infrastructure in 25 provinces in the country.
“The implementation of the mitigation commitments shall be undertaken through bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation. In addition, the benefits of market and non-market mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement shall continue to be explored, consistent with national circumstances and sustainable development aspirations,” the Philippines said in the documents it communicated with the UNFCCC in April 15, 2021.