This photo taken on October 8, 2018, shows an elementary student wading through floodwaters in Mabalacat, Pampanga. – Areas north of Manila like the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan have sunk four-six centimeters (1.5-2.4 inches) a year since 2003, according to satellite monitoring. The creeping bay waters put people and property at risk, while the threat is amplified by high-tides and flooding brought by the roughly 20 storms that pound the archipelago every year. (Photo by Noel CELIS / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Nordic ambassadors to the Philippines on Thursday called for close cooperation between the public and private sectors to find and employ new sustainable solutions to climate change.
This came as their embassies conducted a dialogue on climate change, promoting the Nordic Cooperation model and experience in combatting or adapting to global climate changes which they believe can be suitable for Southeast Asia.
Ambassadors Franz-Michael Mellbin of the Royal Danish Embassy, Juha Pyykkö of the Finland Embassy, Christian Halaas Lyster of the Royal Norwegian Embassy, and Annika Thunborg of the Embassy of Sweden led the talk at The Manila Hotel in Manila.
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They reiterated their countries’ commitments to help in achieving the sustainable development agenda and advancing climate action.
“The Nordic countries aim to be the most sustainable and integrated region in the world. I hope that the Nordic Cooperation model and experience, in general, is something of interest for this region, as well,” said Pyykkö.
“Sustainable solutions can only be achieved by working together. Private and public sectors working together, creating an environment where we can share best practices and adapt new solutions to mitigate the global challenges,” said Lyster.
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga and Negros Oriental 1st District Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong, vice-chair of the House committee on climate change, as well as local government officials also attended the dialogue.
Yulo-Loyzaga presented the climate situation in the Philippines and the climate challenges that the country is facing. She also enumerated the Philippine government’s goals to address climate change, including its target to cut gas emissions by 75 percent.
Limkaichong, for her part, emphasized the importance of climate laws in the fight against the adverse impacts of climate change. She also reaffirmed during the dialogue the House’s commitment to create more regulations to address global warming and the climate crisis.
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