STEP UP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday (Sept. 5, 2023) encouraged his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to entice developing countries to strengthen their commitment to climate action. This, he said, is needed since climate change has a big impact on countries’ progress. (Photo courtesy of PCO/PND)
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has encouraged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-member states to motivate developing countries to firm up their climate action commitments.
He made the call during his intervention at Tuesday's plenary of the ongoing 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, noting that “the most urgent threat to our progress is the impact of climate change.”
“It is a looming reminder of the injustice of disproportionate impact on our people,” he told chief executives and other officials of ASEAN countries.
He said ASEAN, during the upcoming COP28 “must call on developed countries to heighten the implementation of their commitment.”
Among these pledges are climate finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity building, all of which “drive ASEAN’s capabilities to prevent, mitigate, manage and adapt to the impacts of climate change.”
Marcos said the Philippines, being one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, will carry on with international tie-ups aimed at making the region climate-smart and disaster-ready.
“In achieving food security, we must build on cooperation that will harness the transformative potential of our agricultural sector to ensure that food production is responsible and will be of benefit for future generations,” he said.
“The continued effectiveness of our community-building efforts rests on a clear assessment of our strengths. The Philippines will continue to champion for change that will strengthen our institutions, improve our decision-making, and uphold ASEAN Centrality,” he added. (PNA)
