The government’s plans and activities are geared towards the declaration of a climate emergency, said Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who also chairs the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Cimatu explained that declaring a climate emergency would support and strengthen the country’s commitment to protect the economy and environment from the affects of climate change.
“The Philippines has already suffered billions of losses, damages and disruptions due to the impacts of hydrometeorological hazards, so there’s an urgent need to address more projected adverse impacts to ensure climate justice for the current and future generations of Filipinos,” Cimatu said.
“All government programs and initiatives are leaning towards the declaration of climate emergency.”
The Cabinet cluster on climate change has approved resolutions supporting strategies for the Philippines to achieve its goals under the Paris Agreement, an international deal that commits measures to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, Cimatu cited.
Duterte, in his first ever speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September, called on all parties to the Paris Agreement to honor their commitment to join the fight against climate change, adding that the Philippines will to do the same.
