New york: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday highlighted the severe threat posed by climate change, describing it as the most critical challenge facing humanity, particularly for vulnerable nations.
According to Philippines News Agency, during a special plenary session at the United Nations General Assembly, Marcos stressed that for the Philippines, climate change is not a distant threat but a current reality, affecting coastlines, communities, and the psyche of the Filipino people. He emphasized the mental health impact on youth, referencing a 2022 survey that showed young Filipinos are particularly vulnerable to climate anxiety.
Marcos reiterated the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and urged developed countries to meet their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide financial support for climate adaptation and addressing loss and damage. He announced that the Philippines has been selected to host the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, aiming to address the adverse impacts of climate change.
As the host country, the Philippines is committed to ensuring equitable and transparent governance of the Fund, with a needs-based allocation of resources. Marcos also mentioned the Philippines' participation in advocating for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice regarding states' obligations concerning climate change. The ICJ confirmed that states have a legal duty under international law to prevent environmental harm from greenhouse gas emissions.
Marcos pointed out that by 2025, the Philippines will allocate 18 percent of its national budget to climate-related expenditures. The country has established the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging system to align budget priorities with the National Climate Change Action Plan. Additionally, he mentioned the upcoming hosting of the 2024 Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the first International Conference on Nuclear Technology for Controlling Plastic Pollution.
The President also welcomed international cooperation, stating that the Philippines is open to South-South or triangular cooperation, capacity-building arrangements, and sharing knowledge and technology. He concluded by emphasizing the need for global unity in tackling the climate crisis, asserting that only by standing together can humanity overcome this challenge.
