The Philippines and the World Economic Forum (WEF) signed an agreement on blue carbon ecosystem and plastic pollution, Malacañang said.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office announced that Department of Environment and Natural Resources  (DENR) Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippine government with WEF Center for Nature and Climate managing director Neo Gim Huay.

The agreement was signed at the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

According to Gim Huay, the two agreements are significant as they deal with the environment, particularly on efforts of both the Philippine government and the WEF on how to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystem and address plastic pollution.

“The Philippines is a very important economy being an archipelago. So, we hope that these agreements can catalyze a lot more communities, initiatives, public policy and corporate involvement in addressing and protecting our ecosystems,” Gim Huay said.

“The government is putting in place very progressive policies to address plastic pollution including the extended producer responsibility where producers also need to be responsible and help manage the ways from consumption,” Gim Huay added.

The WEF director cited the blue carbon marine protection projects in the Philippines as she recalled her experience diving in the Tubbataha, which she considered as “one of the best marine parks in the world.”

Gim Huay also highlighted the importance of working closely with the administration of President Marcos who is driven to ensure a sustainable ecosystem, and with global collaboration to translate commitments to tangible and practical solutions for communities in the ground.

WEF head of Ocean Action Agenda and Friends of Ocean Action Alfredo Giron Nava echoed Gim Huay's statement, saying "the Philippines, being the leader he is, is just such a clear example of what can be accomplished in a global scale.”

After the signing of the two agreements, both the Philippines and the WEF will start sharing best practices to the communities, civil societies and corporate sector to translate the agreements “into practical progress,” Gim Huay said.

The Philippines is leading in the nature-based environmental solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. It is also one of the leaders in blue carbon and plastics pollution solutions.