CCC assures industries on climate deal commitment

MANILA, Philippines – Local industries have nothing to fear on the government’s commitment to reduce by 2030 the emission level of greenhouse gas by 70 percent under the Paris Agreement, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said.

CCC commissioner Frances Victorio said the country’s commitment could still be amended as needed even if it ratifies the Paris Agreement.

“First of all, we’re currently reviewing the commitment to see if it’s in line with our own development goals. We have until 2019 to come up with our goals. We want to make it as good a study and really consult everyone so I don’t think there’s any reason for fear,” Victorio said in an interview on the sidelines of the Business Summit on Climate Change yesterday.

The 70 percent reduction commitment by 2030 was made under the Aquino administration.

“So even if you ratify, you can change it after the ratification because the 70 percent contribution, it’s not even in the agreement itself. It’s something you just commit to give after the Paris Agreement. That 70 percent is something we determined on our own and is not a requirement from the Paris Agreement,” Victorio said.

While supporting a government initiative to cut carbon emissions and promote business resiliency and environmental sustainability, business organizations such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Federation of Philippine Industries said the proposed 70 percent carbon cut is too high for industries and counterproductive to the economy.

The PCCI said if the interventions to reach a 70 percent reduction would be capital-intensive, enterprises and industries would be under pressure to incur higher operational costs which would result in consumers paying higher for goods and services.

The group said the country’s target annual economic growth of 6.5 percent within the next few years would also be compromised with the implementation of capital-intensive interventions to achieve 70 percent.

“You can always hit several goals at the same time—our concerns for climate change and economic concern. We’re trying to go for our goals that are in line with sustainable development and poverty eradication,” Victorio said.

“The industries can grow. We are allowed to peak and we will have time to still transition to a greener economy,” she added.