‘Now is the safest time in Paris’

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the recent attacks in Paris that left 129 people 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 (CCC), said members of the delegation have been briefed on 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 told a press briefing yesterday in Pasay City.

“The Philippine delegation is attending the conference fully prepared to negotiate and also fully prepared to deal with any emergency or any possible scenario that may arise,” he added.

De Guzman, chief climate negotiator of the Philippines, said delegation members 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 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  (COP 21) will push through next month in Paris despite the terrorist attacks at the French capital last Nov. 13. 

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 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 billion or about five percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Countries were required to submit their intended nationally determined contribution (INDC), a document that outlines their action plan on mitigating the impact of climate change. 

In its INDC, the Philippines promised to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 if it gets assistance like financial resources, technology development and transfer and capability building. 

The Philippines also wants the target to be lowered to 1.5 degrees Celsius to allow island states to withstand the impact of a changing climate.

Other parties, however, are hesitant to set emission reduction targets, believing this could affect businesses and economies dependent on coal. Climate skeptics also question the link between emissions caused by human activities and extreme weather conditions, saying the scientific community has no consensus yet on the issue.  

De Guzman admitted that financing issues may become an obstacle to the forging of a deal. He, however, maintained that countries cannot afford to ignore the issue of climate change.

The Philippines also believes that failure is not an option during the upcoming climate talks in Paris as the survival of people, especially those in small island states, is at stake.

De Guzman also said the Philippines wants human rights to be a “bedrock principle” in the Paris climate deal. “A human rights approach to climate action is critical as it promotes consistency, policy coherence accountability and transparency.”

Different stages of development and circumstances of countries must also be considered in the agreement. ?“We have common agreement that everybody will do something but we have to differ based on our capacity and responsibilities. Equity should not be equal or same action by parties,” De Guzman said.

“Developing countries, especially vulnerable ones, must receive special consideration in terms of support and should have flexibility on time, frequency and scope of their commitment,” he added.

De Guzman said developing countries must be assisted to enable them to achieve their INDC targets and to strengthen their mitigation and adaptation capabilities.

Meanwhile, the National Youth Commission (NYC) has joined the global campaign for an ambitious target to limit the effects of climate change.

More than a thousand students and members of youth sector yesterday joined the culminating activities of the #nowph campaign simultaneously held at Rizal High School in Pasig City and the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Students formed the message “Act on our Future,” which is addressed to world leaders who will attend the climate summit later this month.

Actor Dingdong Dantes, NYC commissioner for environment, called on world leaders, especially those from industrialized nations, to commit to more ambitious targets to address climate change.

“We hope world leaders will find sense and wisdom in this call because coastal countries like the Philippine bear the brunt of the ill effects of too much carbon gas emission, judging from the series of typhoons and other calamities that hit many countries,” he added. – Janvic Mateo