Senate unanimously approves Paris climate deal

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Tuesday unanimously voted to concur with the ratification of the historic Paris Agreement, strengthening the country's role in climate talks.

Earlier this month, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Instrument of Accession for the Paris climate deal, which calls for the reduction of carbon emissions that have been blamed for climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Sen. Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, thanked her colleagues for supporting the ratification of the Paris Agreement.

"The Paris Agreement is a testament of solidarity and a call for global climate action. It shows that developing nations and the developed countries could pursue climate action and uphold climate justice together," Legarda said in a statement.

The accession to the climate deal will allow the country to exercise governance, oversight, leadership and decision-making in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

"The Paris Agreement is an embodiment of a legacy. This will go down in history as one of our shining achievements. The 17th Congress, under the Duterte Administration, can be regarded as the legislative assembly that championed climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable development," Legarda said.

The Embassy of France in the Philippines has congratulated the country for the ratification of the climate deal.

The Philippines joins 133 other parties to the Paris Agreement, which represents more than 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

"The ratification of the Paris Agreement, which coincides with the 70th year anniversary of French-Philippine diplomatic relations, opens new perspectives for our two countries to develop and implement sustainable solutions towards a greener, more sustainable future for our planet," the French Embassy said in a statement.

In 2015, members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change crafted the climate deal which seeks to limit the increase in the global average temperature to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The Philippine vowed to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030.