Climate group lauds Duterte’s signing of Paris pact

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte presides over the Joint Climate Change Commission Board Meeting at the State Dining Room of Malacañan Palace on January 31, 2017. Also in the photo are Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Senator Loren Legarda. Photo courtesy of Malacañang

MANILA — The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), a local climate policy group, has lauded President Duterte’s signing of the Paris agreement on climate change for ratification of the Senate.

“We did not doubt President Duterte’s intention to act on climate change. By signing the Paris Agreement, his administration is asserting its leadership role in the [United Nations] climate negotiations,” said Renato Redentor Constantino, ICSC executive director, in a statement.

“Committing to the agreement and its 1.5°C target will make our nation more resilient while helping transform and pump prime a more sustainably powered inclusive economy. Keeping within the temperature limit can trigger economic growth, create jobs, improve energy access  and public health,” Constantino said.

Constantino likewise lauded the “team effort” of Senator Loren Legarda, Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, and Climate Change Commissioner Emmanuel de Guzman.

The ball is now in the Senate’s court to “shepherd the climate deal fast enough to give our country the platform it needs to lead Southeast Asia’s climate action agenda,” according to Constantino.

Constantino suggested that the Philippines, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, push the region to partner with China and Japan on climate-related investments.  SFM