Pesident Rodrigo Roa Duterte at the Reception hall of Malaca帽an Palace before the presentation of credentials of Ambassadors from Bangladesh, Vietnam and Egypt. 蜜桃工作室 PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC
Despite earlier misgivings, President Duterte signed on Tuesday the Paris Agreement detailing commitments to deal with climate change.
Mr. Duterte submitted to the Senate the instrument of accession, dated Feb. 28, for ratification.
鈥淎fter examining the text thereof, I find it advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and seek the Senate鈥檚 concurrence thereto,鈥� he said.
The Paris Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global average temperature rise this century to well below 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
The pact also seeks to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 C above preindustrial levels.
The Philippines earlier pledged a 70-percent cut in emissions by 2030.
On Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Loren Legarda received a copy of the accession document.
鈥淵ou know, this is not political in nature. And even our colleagues, dear friends in the LP (Liberal Party) have urged the President to ratify it, said Legarda, chair of the Senate climate change committee.
鈥淚 think everybody will support it,鈥� she told reporters.
Upon ratification, the Philippines, among the nations most vulnerable to the destructive impact of climate change, will have access to the Green Climate Fund.
Under the fund, developed nations, for long the world鈥檚 biggest carbon emitters, are obliged to pool together $100 million annually to support vulnerable and low-emitting nations in facing the impact of climate change.
Mr. Duterte initially said he did not want to sign the agreement, fearing that it would limit the country鈥檚 industrialization, but he eventually promised to do so after the Cabinet voted in its favor.
Secretary Fortunato dela Pe帽a of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said his department would intensify research on renewable energy and energy conservation to help the Philippines meet its climate change commitments.
The DOST would also improve programs to assist small-scale enterprises in moving from traditional energy sources to renewable energy sources, Dela Pe帽a said.
Climate Change Commissioner Emmanuel de Guzman said he was 鈥渙verjoyed.鈥�
鈥淚 believe that our President鈥檚 resolve for climate action will keep us in the right direction of attaining social justice,鈥� he said.
鈥淎s one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, ratification ensures the Philippines retains its moral high ground in demanding for more party commitments in the negotiations,鈥� said Rodne Galicha of the Climate Reality Project Philippines.
鈥淲e did not doubt President Duterte鈥檚 intention to act on climate change. By signing the Paris Agreement, his administration is asserting its leadership role in the climate negotiations,鈥� said Renato Redentor Constantino, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. 鈥�WITH REPORTS FROM TARRA QUISMUNDO AND JAYMEE T. GAMIL