The Philippines is actively participating in COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), underscoring its commitment to limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stressed the significance of COP28 as a major international platform where all stakeholders unite to combat climate change and mitigate its effects, acknowledging that climate change is a global issue affecting all nations.
Leading the Philippine delegation at COP28 is Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, who also serves as the authorized representative of President Marcos in her capacity as Chairperson-designate of the Climate Change Commission (CCC).
The CCC is the primary government body responsible for climate change policymaking and is chaired by the President.
The Philippine delegation at COP28 comprises representatives from various sectors, including government agencies, the private sector, civil society, and development partners. Their active involvement in discussions at the conference reflects a focus on transformative climate governance, global decarbonization efforts, and the implementation of nature-based solutions in line with the country’s priorities.
Given the Philippines’ status as the third most vulnerable country to climate change, it faces multiple challenges such as economic losses, altered rainfall patterns, droughts, threats to ecosystems and food supply, rising sea levels, health risks, and vulnerabilities among groups like women and indigenous populations.
The commitment of the Marcos administration to reducing carbon emissions aligns with global efforts to limit temperature rise.
Secretary Loyzaga highlighted the significance of climate finance in COP28, outlining the delegation’s participation in various negotiating work streams, including loss and damage, climate finance, adaptation, the global stocktake, just transition, and mitigation, especially about Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The Philippines will host numerous panel discussions, presentations, and networking events at its pavilion during COP28, with a focus on urging developed nations to fulfill their commitments to developing countries in terms of climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building.
Secretary Loyzaga emphasized the comprehensive government approach in addressing climate change, with the involvement of key agencies such as the Department of Finance, Department of Energy, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Migrant Workers, Department of Agriculture, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Health, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Commission on Women, and National Youth Commission.
Additionally, the private sector is actively supporting the Philippines’ efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5°C.
Ayala’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) project, the world’s first of its kind, aims to accelerate the retirement of the 246-MW South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation (SLTEC) coal plant by 2040, 15 years ahead of its original end-of-life date in 2055.
This transition to cleaner technology is expected to prevent up to 50 million metric tons of CO2 emissions, contributing to a more environmentally sustainable future.
