MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday he would develop the Philippines according to the needs of Filipinos as he slammed western countries anew for imposing carbon limits on the country to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Speaking to residents affected by Typhoon Lawin in Tuguegarao, Duterte said the carbon restrictions set by developed countries would slow down the industrialization of the Philippines.
“They want us to slow down so I have a rift with them (developed countries). I don’t agree with their formula and equation because it’s not fair,” Duterte said.
“I told them you used carbon for the longest time and now that we want to be like you, you are stopping us? That’s stupidity,” he added.
Duterte said imposing restrictions on the Philippines’ industrialization would stunt its development, which in turn, would affect the lives of its people.
“I am one of the presidents you refused to yield. I will develop my country in accordance to the needs of my people. Our number is increasing so we are now using machines. If you stop me from doing that, how can I feed my countrymen?” the president said.
“I said I don’t like that. Either we all live or we all die,” he added.
Climate change, which has been tied to natural disasters including strong typhoons, has been attributed to carbon emissions caused by human activities.
Last April, more than 150 countries inked the historic Paris climate deal that seeks to limit global warming “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. World leaders have also vowed to work to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The Philippines, one of the countries prone to disasters, has yet to ratify the agreement.
The Philippines under then President Benigno Aquino III promised to cut carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 even if the Philippines is not a major emitter.
Duterte had said he would not honor the Paris agreement, calling it “stupid” and “absurd.”