PH industrialization possible under Paris Accord — senator

Senator Loren Legarda says there is nothing in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change that would hamper Philippine industrialization. INQUIRER FILE

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines does not have to turn its back on the Paris Agreement on Climate Change to pursue development, Sen. Loren Legarda said Monday.

Legarda was responding to President Duterte’s earlier statement that he would not honor the pact, a treaty for which the previous administration vigorously campaigned, as it might inhibit the country’s progress.

READ: Duterte says ‘No’ to historic climate change pact

Duterte later clarified the remark in his State of the Nation Address, saying addressing global warming remains a top priority for the country, but that international efforts must be based “upon a fair and equitable equation.”

“There is no provision in the Paris Agreement that would prevent our industrialization,” said Legarda, a staunch environment advocate who earlier called for the country’s immediate ratification of the pact.

“The agreement also obliges developed nations to assist us and other developing countries, through financial and technical support, in preparing for natural hazards, reducing disaster risks, addressing climate change impacts, and moving towards a low carbon economy,” she said.

Under the December agreement, 195 United Nations member-states vowed to cut down on carbon emissions to contain global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, past which point the increase in Earth’s temperature would be irreversible.

READ: Honor Paris accord, nat’l scientist urges Duterte

Despite this carbon cap, Legarda said the Philippines could still pursue development efforts through a “long-term transition to a low carbon economy.” She said industrialized nations, for long the world’s major carbon emitters, “should have greater responsibility to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

“That is why, the proposed GHG emissions we submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is conditional. This means that the success of our goal to reduce our GHG emissions to 70 percent by the year 2030 will depend on both our efforts and the assistance that will be provided to us by industrialized nations,” Legarda said./rga