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CCC cites need for climate action responsive to vulnerable

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos

June 8, 2023, 9:46 pm

<p>CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje <em>(File photo)</em></p>

CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje (File photo)

MANILA – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Thursday emphasized the importance of implementing "concrete, relevant, and appropriate" climate action that is "responsive" to the needs of vulnerable developing nations like the Philippines.

CCC vice chairperson and executive director Robert Borje made the remark at the opening of the 58th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB58) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.

Citing the undelivered commitments, Borje called for the undertaking of immediate actions to address the worsening climate crisis and for the realization of the decisions made during the 27th session of the Conference of Parties (COP27).

“As we build on the progress Parties made in Sharm El-Sheikh, we believe in the real possibility that we will be able to transform COP27 decisions into actions with outputs and outcomes that are concrete, relevant, and appropriate, responsive to the vulnerable, developing nations’ needs and priorities, and based on best available science and evidence,” Borje said.

“This is no longer the time to explore. Now is the time to ensure that we implement and deploy the most appropriate measures so that we no longer need to grieve, but survive and thrive with higher level of adaptive capacities and climate resilience," he added.

Borje also presented "alarming" statistics on the loss and damage incurred by the Philippines and nearby Southeast Asian countries over the past decade.

He lamented that the Philippines suffered loss and damage amounting to USD12 billion, equivalent to two times its national budget for crucial health services.

He noted that the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand emerged as four of 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change and disasters, making nearly 50 percent of Southeast Asia's population exposed to climate change impacts.

He added that Southeast Asia endured economic and human losses of USD97.3 billion, nearly matching the global commitment of USD100 billion by Annex I or industrialized countries for 2009 to 2020 to support vulnerable developing nations.

The Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Group of Finance Ministers also reported a staggering loss and damage figure of USD525 billion over the past two decades for the 58 vulnerable country members.

“These numbers manifest in no uncertain terms, that in the face of worsening climate change, it is our lives, our livelihood, and our collective future at stake,” Borje said.

Recognizing the magnitude of the climate crisis, Borje called for focused attention on key issues for the SB58 conference.

He said the critical points include the utilization of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's latest findings; emissions avoidance as a mitigation option; acceleration of work programs for concrete action; speedy operationalization of relevant funds and networks; streamlined access to climate finance; and the delivery of effective means of implementation.

Emphasizing the importance of inclusive participation, Borje sought the involvement of civil society, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and girls, youth, differently abled, and other stakeholders in developing "holistic and multidimensional" climate solutions.

Borje stressed that with only seven critical years remaining until 2030 to mitigate global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius, there is an urgent need to translate dialogues into actions with concrete, relevant, and appropriate outputs and outcomes.

“We have talked ourselves out these past years, and at times, we were driven to tears. It is time to act on our commitments and deliver what we said we will do – with the highest speed and in the largest scale possible,” he said.

He also enjoined the global community to work harder and “save lives, protect livelihoods, and secure a safe, resilient, and sustainable future for all.”

Borje noted that the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has prioritized climate change as a critical national concern and vowed to embed climate resilience and accelerated climate action into its development agenda, with the expectation of increased resource flow, including means of implementation.

The Philippines, he said, has allocated USD8.2 billion, or 9 percent of its total national budget, for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs this year.

SB58, held in Bonn, Germany from 5 to 15 June 2023, gathered representatives from various countries, international organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders to discuss critical issues related to climate change.

It provides a crucial platform for dialogue and negotiation leading up to COP28 in Dubai, UAE in November. (PNA) 

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