Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr made a last-minute resolution to cancel his journey to Dubai to attend the world’s most necessary local weather summit, disappointing some convention observers who referred to as it a “missed alternative”.
The COP28 local weather convention kicked off in Dubai on Thursday, and world leaders and local weather negotiators are anticipated to talk about and determine on crucial measures wanted to deal with local weather change within the subsequent two weeks.
It has been eight years since a Philippine head of state participated in individual on the local weather summit. Former president Benigno Aquino III joined world leaders in 2015 at COP21, the place the landmark Paris Settlement was drafted.
Up till Wednesday, Marcos, Jr had mentioned that he can be attending the summit in Dubai and utilizing it as a platform to remind nations of their local weather change commitments, particularly in local weather financing. However in a social media put up hours earlier than the essential assembly, Marcos, Jr mentioned that he was going to focus as an alternative on the hostage-taking state of affairs involving 17 Filipino seafarers within the Pink Sea.
Rodne Galicha, govt director of Residing Laudato Si Philippines, an environmental advocacy group affiliated with the Catholic Church, acknowledges the seriousness of the hostage state of affairs, however mentioned the continued disaster off the coast of Yemen is just not removed from Dubai, the place the president might nonetheless monitor the state of affairs.
“The President’s attendance might have been a strategic platform to maintain the federal government’s precedence stance for local weather motion and pressing name for local weather justice,” Galicha instructed Eco-Enterprise. “His absence would grow to be a problem for the Philippine delegation to be agency in laying down positions for the most effective curiosity of the Filipino individuals.”
Members of the Filipino group in Dubai hearken to a recorded message from Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos, Jr on 30 November. Filpinos gathered to welcome Marcos, Jr however as an alternative met his representatives, led by setting secretary Ma Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga. Picture: Presidential Communications Workplace
Ian Fry, United Nations particular rapporteur on local weather change and human rights, mentioned he understands the explanations for the President’s absence however mentioned that having a head of state at a COP “all the time makes a distinction”.
Fry was within the Philippines in November for a 10-day go to to look at points on human rights within the context of local weather change within the nation. Previous to his position, he was a local weather negotiator for Tuvalu for greater than 20 years. He’s at present in Dubai as an advisor to youth delegates.
“President Marcos’ attendance and supply of the nation place on the COP is a powerful sign to the remainder of the world that the Philippines could be very involved in regards to the impacts of local weather change and that pressing motion is required on the highest stage of presidency,” Fry instructed Eco-Enterprise.
The local weather convention often begins with a excessive stage phase the place heads of states current their nation’s assertion on local weather change. The President was anticipated to say the necessity for a framework for the loss and injury fund, quick observe the vitality transition, and prioritise resilient meals programs.
He has as an alternative entrusted the nation assertion to setting secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga who will ship it on 1 December.
Final 12 months, Philippine ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin Tago communicated the nation place at the high-level ministerial dialogue on local weather finance at COP27. The 12 months earlier than, then-finance secretary Carlos Dominguez made the nationwide assertion in Glasgow.
Tony La Viña, a former lead local weather negotiator for the Philippines and a veteran adviser of earlier delegations, who spoke to Eco-Enterprise earlier than Marcos had modified his thoughts about attending COP, mentioned the president’s attendance can be “big”, significantly if it was held in distinction to how his predecessor, former President Rodrigo Duterte pushed local weather points to the sidelines.
Duterte, within the first 12 months of his presidency, threatened to pull out of the Paris local weather change settlement however was finally persuaded by his authorities officers to remain within the deal. He additionally frowned at local weather conferences, calling them a “waste of money and time.”
Need extra Philippines ESG and sustainability information and views? Subscribe to our Eco-Enterprise Philippines e-newsletter right here.
