The Philippines is among the developing countries which joined the talks to urge developed nations not to stray from the principles and provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change treaty and raise climate action ambition at the opening of this year’s first round of climate talks.
The current climate talks are pursued by the Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDC) in two discussions. The first deals with negotiations of a post 2020 agreement and the second primarily refers to addressing the lack of developed country emission reduction ambition and financial support for developing countries between now and 2020.
“If only developed countries have fulfilled their obligations and remained faithful to our ‘constitution’, we would be on our way to a fair and successful climate regime marked by international cooperation for equitable and ambitious action by all” said Philippine Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Sano.
“We lost the last decade because developed countries refused to lead. While they procrastinated, the world experienced the increasing consequences of a changing climate,” said the Philippine official.
The LMDC stressed in its opening statement, read by Ambassador Jaime Hermida Nicaragua head of delegation, that the ADP negotiations and the outcome shall be “under the Convention” and that the negotiations and the outcome shall be guided by and must be consistent with the principles and provisions of the Convention, especially the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
The African, Asian, and Latin American and Caribbean developing and least-developed countries of the LMDC have a combined population of 3.5 billion, or around half of the world’s population today. They are developing economies that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, a large number of which are already experiencing extreme weather impacts from floods, droughts, extreme rainfall, melting glaciers and dust storms of climate change.
“The credibility of developed countries to ask developing countries for bigger efforts on climate action lies on their ability to show leadership. Leadership from developed countries needs to happen now and should not be postponed to 2020, as this sets the stage for more effective climate action beyond 2020,” said Rene Orellana, head of delegation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
“Now is the opportunity for developed countries to step up to the plate, take responsibility and demonstrate leadership of the global efforts made in the context of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. If they do this, leading all countries, with a high level of climate action ambition, then the world will be on its way to a successful climate regime.” Orellana added.
