Legarda Welcomes President Duterte's Commitment to Ratify Paris Agreement

Senator Loren Legarda today welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte's commitment to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and said that the climate journey has just begun.

"I thank the President for declaring that he will ratify the Paris Agreement. I thank the members of the Cabinet too for seeing the importance of upholding the treaty," said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committees on Climate Change and Finance, and the Global Champion for Resilience of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).

"The pronouncement is likewise timely as we commemorate the third anniversary of Supertyphoon Yolanda, which was one of the rallying points for a more ambitious Paris Agreement," she added.

In line with this, the Senator urged all concerned government departments to submit their certificates of concurrence (COC) so that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) may submit them along with the instrument of ratification to the President.

She also encouraged the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to strengthen efforts, particularly capacity-building programs to help local government units (LGUs) craft their local climate change action plans (LCCAP).

Legarda said, once the Executive ratifies and transmits the instrument of ratification to the Senate, she would shepherd the Upper Chamber's immediate concurrence.

"Following the ratification of Malacañang, the Senate will have to concur. But along with the ongoing process of ratification, we must continue to mobilize urgent climate action, plot a roadmap to resilience, and capacitate LGUs in crafting their LCCAPs and in accessing the People's Survival Fund," she stressed.

"After ratification, we can be a strong voice in the world to fight for climate justice. The Philippines can lead vulnerable nations to compel developed countries to comply with their commitments to reduce emissions," said Legarda.

The Senator explained that the Paris Agreement is a vehicle towards achieving climate justice as it compels developed nations that have polluted the world and caused this climate crisis to decarbonize economy-wide, as well as to raise $100 Billion every year under the Green Climate Fund and provide developing and vulnerable nations needed support on capacity building and technology transfer for adaptation and mitigation efforts.

"If we fully accept the Agreement, we can influence the decisions on how the accord will be implemented and we maintain our leadership role in the international climate talks and advocacy. Our ratification will send a strong signal of our continuing commitment to work with the rest of the world in ensuring the survival of this generation and the generations to come, and the ability of the Earth to sustain life," Legarda concluded.