Philippines signs Paris climate accord at UN

MANILA, Philippines - Environment Secretary Ramon Paje signed yesterday the landmark international climate agreement reached in Paris last December and appealed for other nations to immediately work toward reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Paje said that nations should not wait for the full implementation of the Paris climate accord in 2020.

The climate agreement was adopted by 196 country-participants in the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, France last Dec. 12.

“Our contribution to the global problem on climate change is admittedly a droplet in the well, but streams, lakes and oceans are all composed of mere droplets. We cannot do this alone,” Paje said.

He added that the Philippines signed the deal hoping that all signatories would also begin implementing their respective intended nationally determined contribution (INDC), which is a long-term commitment to curb GHG emissions and the identification of climate mitigation and adaptation actions beyond 2020.

The Philippines committed to reduce by 70 percent its carbon emissions by 2030. The reduction will come from the energy, transport, waste, forestry and industry sectors.

Paje said that while the country has one of the most ambitious national targets, the full implementation of its contribution to global action “requires grant-based support in the form of adequate, predictable and sustainable financing.”

He added that despite financial constraints, the country managed to demonstrate its commitment by starting the implementation of its National Climate Action Plan and the integration of climate change in national and local development plans and budgets.

The country’s GHG inventory management and reporting system among national agencies and partner institutions is already being established to create a transparent, accurate, complete and comparable baseline of emissions, he added.