Despite the non-participation of the Philippines in the United Nations climate change meetings by air travel, the Commission on Human Rights on Friday vowed to still take actions to address climate change.
“We hope that despite non-attendance, we will remain active in climate change prevention,” said Jacqueline Ann de Guia, CHR lawyer-spokesperson.
She reacted to the statement of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin that DFA officials could no longer attend forums using air travel to take part in climate change discussions.
He, however, said the Philippines could still participate through online communication.
According to De Guia, the participation of the Philippines in climate change talks ensures “that we have a say on the climate discourse, which impacts us greatly.”
“Approximately 20 typhoons visit our country yearly. In 2013, we were ravaged by ‘‘Yolanda,’’ the strongest typhoon in recorded history,” she cited.
“Our participation in global discourse is not in vain. In 2015, as chairman of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the Philippines led the advocacy for global warming threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius,” she said.
Such “ambitious” goal is enshrined in the Paris Agreement, “which is meant to strengthen and guide efforts for global climate action,” the CHR said.
To participate in the global discourse could be an avenue to press for greater responsibility and accountability, especially from the primary contributors of global emissions, it added.
It cited the importance of the State to continue keeping its commitment in preventing climate change and to actively implement policies to mitigate its impact.
“For our part, the CHR conducted a national inquiry to probe the alleged responsibility of major fossil-fuel companies to climate change and how this impacts the human rights of Filipinos,” De Guia said.
“The future of humanity is at stake and our country is among those that bear the brunt of this global phenomenon,” she added.
“We, therefore, encourage the government to take advantage of all avenues that aim to address the climate problem.”
