FMJ skips COP28, Citing hostage situation
By Nidz Godino
“In light of important developments in hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in Red Sea, I have made decision not to attend COP28 in Dubai,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in post on his official X account.
It was first time FMJ had canceled official foreign trip since his election as President in June last year.
Marcos was to meet with his officials to discuss dispatch of high-level delegation to Tehran to extend assistance to Filipino seamen.
Only members of his Cabinet, including Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan showed up at Villamor Air Base for send-off ceremony.
Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will represent Marcos at COP28 and deliver his administration’s statement on climate change.
Loyzaga is the official representative of the President to Climate Change Commission. FMJ chairs CCC.
“I have entrusted DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga to lead COP28 delegation and articulate country’s statement on my behalf,” FMJ said. COP28 runs until Dec. 12.
In statement, Loyzaga said Philippines will strongly press for implementation of compensation fund for developing countries that have suffered most from climate change.
She said establishment of Loss and Damage Fund is among priorities of 13-day COP28, opened at Dubai Exhibition Centre.
“ Loss and Damage Fund is extremely important because there are climate-related adverse impacts beyond our ability to finance,” Loyzaga said.
Developed countries and private sources would be called upon to contribute to operationalization of fund in timely and locally driven manner, Loyzaga added.
Countries agreed to set up such fund in last year’s COP27 climate conference in Egypt.
“Climate finance is huge theme in COP28…we are working in seven major negotiating work streams: loss and damage, climate finance, adaptation, global stocktake, just transition, especially of our labor towards renewable energy future, but also specifically our concerns about reskilling and upskilling our workforce… finally, mitigation and Article 6 of Paris Agreement, for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction and avoidance,” Loyzaga said.
Transitional committee working out details of fund, reportedly failed to issue set of recommendations on how to set it up and make it operational.
Developed countries, led by US, want fund to be based at World Bank, while developing nations said this would make it hard for them to tap into funding.
Loyzaga added Philippines is at point it would need to do thorough review of country’s commitment to 75 percent GHG emission reduction.
“I think it is extremely important for us to be heard by other countries because what we’re trying to do is really approach our climate resilience by twinning adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction. .. that will involve social, economic, environmental, and scientific efforts of our whole government,” she said.
Paris Agreement calls for keeping global warming in check by limiting temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C, and reduction of GHG emissions by 45 percent by 2030, to reach net zero by 2050.
Net zero means bringing down global GHG emissions to almost zero, while residual or remaining GHG emission is captured or absorbed, mostly by forests, sequester carbon dioxide, major GHG.
“Our participation in COP28 seeks to amplify calls for developed nations to fulfill their commitments to developing countries in areas of climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building,” Loyzaga said.
“Moreover, our exposure internationally will open opportunities for access to financial and technical support we need as country vulnerable to climate change.”
In speech at Malacañang, FMJ stressed significance of Philippines’ participation to COP28, saying it’s “biggest platform for international community where all stakeholders will have all-hands-on-deck to address climate change and help mitigate its impact.”
In 2022, CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje said Philippines incurred P506.1-billion losses in past decade due to climate change and geological hazards.
More than 140 heads of state, government and royalty were expected to attend opening of World Climate Action Summit at Dubai Exhibition Centre.
At pre-departure briefing at Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Maria Teresa Almojuela said high on agenda of Marcos administration at this year’s COP were fast tracking energy transition, delivering and enhancing climate finance, and adopting resilient food systems.
Prior to Marcos’ decision to skip annual climate gathering, several bilateral meetings were also being arranged between Marcos and other world leaders on sidelines of COP28, Almojuela said.
She said Philippines has total of 237 registered on-site delegates, representing 16 agencies and members of civil society.
“Many of them ,Filipino delegates will be staying behind after President has completed his program for negotiation … usually it extends beyond two or couple of days beyond schedule because these are very important conversations,” Almojuela said.
In his speech during turnover of P541.44-million People’s Survival Fund (PSF) to six local government units at Malacañang, FMJ would use COP28 to call on global community to stay committed to climate change mitigation programs.
“We will use this platform to rally to global community and call upon nations to honor their commitments, particularly in climate financing,” he said.
FMJ underscored significance of COP28 to Philippines, one of the most vulnerable countries to effects of climate change in the world.
“But we must also take lead when it comes to global move and global aspiration those most vulnerable communities around the world will somehow be assisted by developing countries when it comes to these measures to mitigate and to adapt to climate change,” he added.
PSF finances climate change projects not funded by other government agencies.
Among activities eligible for PSF funding are projects on water resources management, land management, agriculture and fisheries, and health.
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