Many of the people and nations most affected by climate change are among the least responsible for it. Fifty-eight countries including the Philippines belonging to the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) were responsible for spearheading the Paris Agreement in 2015. This agreement seeks to limit global warming to well below two degrees centigrade by the end of the 21st century, by aiming to keep warming within the safer limit of 1.5 degrees centigrade. Latest findings show that global warming could reach this latter threshold between 2030 and 2052 if it continues to increase at the current rate.
The foregoing Global Stocktake on the Paris Agreement has underpinned the agenda of all Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change meetings from 2015 to the ongoing COP 28 in Dubai. Stock-taking precedes Accelerated Adaptation Action in the CVC agenda. At COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh last year, agreement was forged for establishing a Loss and Damage Fund.
This is the context of the Philippine position articulated in President Marcos’ prepared speech for COP 28 in which he asked world leaders to support the Philippines' bid to host the Loss and Damage Fund. He emphasized the urgency of operationalizing this Fund so that the developing and vulnerable countries could respond concretely to the serious impact of droughts, floods and rising see levels aggravated by climate change. Only a fortnight ago, the country marked the 10th anniversary of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), one of the most powerful typhoons in history, that affected more than 14 million people across 44 provinces, claiming the lives of over 8,000 people, and displacing millions more.
The President pointed out that the government has focused on transformative solutions to curb the impact of climate change and address biodiversity loss and pollution. "More than just an environmental issue; for us, it is a matter of survival, of justice, and of protecting the rights of our people," he said. Hence, the Philippine Development Plan has prioritized fast-tracking climate action and establishing sustainable and livable cities.
While the government has established a People’s Survival Fund that supports efforts of local government units to implement climate change adaptation programs and projects, the scale and scope of what needs to be done requires a greater magnitude of support that will be provided by the Loss and Damage Fund. As observed by the CVF: “Climate finance effectiveness has far to go, beyond a Delivery Plan for the $100 billion of annual balanced climate finance.”
President Marcos highlighted initiatives and accomplishments in developing renewable energy that now accounts for 35 percent of the country’s power generation mix. Protecting the country’s forests and seas is essential, too, for biodiversity. The Philippines claims to be the home of more than half of more than 50,000 species of flora and fauna. Such efforts, the President emphasized, will benefit indigenous peoples and local communities.
In the final analysis, hope is sustained by the resilience of vulnerable communities, according to Samoan environmentalist Brianna Fruean: “Our indigenous people have always lived in harmony with nature. Protecting Indigenous people and knowledge is climate justice.”