Duterte: Wealthy countries have ‘moral obligation’ to combat climate change

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MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte called on the rich nations on Wednesday to fulfill their “moral obligation” to aid climate change action.

Duterte remarked in a keynote speech at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly that wealthy countries should fulfill their financial obligations to alleviate the effects of climate change in developing countries.

“Developed countries must fulfill their longstanding commitment to climate financing, technology transfer, and capacity-building in the developing world. This is a moral obligation that cannot be avoided,” Duterte said.

According to Duterte, the transition to a green economy, which promotes social equity while minimizing environmental hazards and scarcity, “must not come at the expense of emerging countries’ economic vitality”.

“It simply cannot be — or it would be another travesty of justice,” he said.

Duterte further stated that the planet has reached a “critical tipping point,” and that failure to act on climate change will have “cataclysmic repercussions for the entire civilization”.

He then urged all countries, particularly those with the ability to “really tip the balance,” to take the required steps to minimize the effects of climate change.

“We therefore appeal for urgent climate action,” Duterte said. “Climate change has also exposed the varying vulnerabilities of countries around the globe. The risks and burden of a warming climate are simply not the same for everyone. The greatest injustice here is that those who suffer the most are those the least responsible for this existential crisis.”

Duterte also warned that efforts to combat climate change would be “ineffective” if the “largest” polluters continued to conduct “business as usual”.

The Philippines, for its part, accepts responsibility and will do its part to address climate change, according to Duterte.

Duterte stated the Philippines has already submitted its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), with a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.

Over the 2020-2030 period, the NDC symbolizes the country’s goal of modernizing and pursuing low carbon and resilient development in agriculture, waste, industry, transportation, and energy.

Duterte also announced a moratorium on the construction of new coal power facilities, as well as a command to investigate nuclear energy.

House committees to hold hearings during break

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Spread the loveMANILA – The House of Representatives has authorized for its committees to conduct hearings during the five-week congressional break, extending until late April.

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