French ambassador assures climate delegates' safety in Paris

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the recent attacks that left more than 120 persons dead, the French Embassy has assured the Philippine delegation to the upcoming climate talks that now is the safest time to travel to Paris.

Emmanuel de Guzman, commissioner of the Climate Change Commission, said members of the delegation have been briefed of the situation in France and are prepared for any emergency.

“I talked to (French Ambassador Thierry Mathou). He said this is the safest time now in Paris maybe they doubled the security measures,” de Guzman said in a press briefing Wednesday in Pasay.

“The Philippine delegation is attending COP (Conference of Parties) fully prepared to negotiate and is also fully prepared to deal with any emergency or any possible scenario that may arise,” he added.

De Guzman, the chief climate negotiator of the Philippines, said delegation members already have a contingency plan to ensure their safety.

“We have identified areas where we can converge. We have a directory of the contact numbers of delegates’ relatives here,” de Guzman said.

“I feel safe going to Paris,” he added.

The 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will push through next month in Paris despite the terrorist attacks at the French capital last November 13 that claimed the lives of at least 129 people.

Delegates of the conference will try to forge a binding agreement that will cut greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming below two degrees Celsius.

Greenhouse emissions produced by human activities have been linked to extreme weather conditions and disasters. The Philippines is considered as one of the countries most vulnerable to the impact of climate change, with about 20 cyclones visiting the country every year.

Annual economic losses due to disasters have been estimated at P12.4 million or about five percent of the country’s gross domestic product.