Legarda assures compliance with Paris Agreement goal

Sen. Loren Legarda on Monday assured international climate allies at the 23rd United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, that the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) would be compatible with the 1.5-degree Celsius climate goal as prescribed in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Legarda, head of the Philippine delegation to the COP23, also expressed support for the notion that green innovative facilities could stimulate economic growth for the Philippines.

“Rest assured I shall do everything in my power to ensure that the Philippines’ NDC will soon be rated 1.5 C-compatible as well, as I assume all my counterparts in other [climate vulnerable countries] are doing as well,” Legarda said.

The senator delivered a keynote speech late on Monday night at the side event, “Innovative Climate Finance Strategies and Instruments by and For Climate Vulnerable Countries” organized by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).

In her speech, she cited the latest analysis of Climate Action Tracker showing that only Morocco and Gambia had NDCs compatible with 1.5 C, and four out of five countries that have 2 C-compatible climate action plans are also members of the CVF.

These countries are Bhutan, Costa Rica, Ethiopia and the Philippines, she said.

The CVF is an international alliance of countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet.

The 196-nation Paris Agreement calls for capping global warming at 2 C below preindustrial levels.

The Philippines earlier pledged a 70-percent cut in carbon emissions by 2030.