PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III left for Paris Sunday to attend the 21st Conference of Parties, where he will lead the meeting of 20 developing countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
In a press briefing at the airport before his departure, Aquino said the upcoming climate talks in Paris present an opportunity for world leaders to take collective action after failing to reach a consensus at the 2009 climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Aquino is also scheduled to fly to Italy and the Vatican for working visits, after the trip to France.
Aside from leading the meeting of developing countries in the “Climate Vulnerable Forum,” Aquino said he will also share with world leaders the Philippines’ experience in responding to and recovering from natural disasters in recent years.
The President’s statement comes amid criticism of the slow pace of his administration’s efforts to bring relief and rehabilitation to the victims of Super Typhoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) in 2013, which left more than 6,000 people dead and devastated Eastern Visayas.
Aquino will be among 147 world leaders expected to participate in the COP21, which will be held in Le Bourget in the suburb of Paris, from Nov. 30 until Dec. 11.
In addition to participating in the climate change conference, Aquino said he will also meet with business groups in Paris to encourage investors to set up business in the Philippines.
He said he would also extend the country’s sympathies to France following the Nov. 13 terror attacks in Paris that left more than 100 people dead.
Following the climate talks in Paris, Aquino will fly to Rome, Italy to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi for the signing of agreements aimed at improving the livelihood of Filipino workers.
Aquino will also touch base with the Rome-based Filipino community to know their concerns.
From Rome, the President and his delegation will head to Vatican City to pay a reciprocal visit to Pope Francis, who was in the Philippines from Jan. 15 to 19.
Aquino will also witness the unveiling and the blessing of a mosaic sculpture of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, and will meet with Filipino priests and religious at the Vatican.
Earlier, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippines has been chosen to lead the developing countries’ forum that was organized way back in 2009.
Senator Loren Legarda on Sunday warned that the country would experience more extreme weather conditions if nations represented in the Paris conference do not agree to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“The Philippines cannot afford failure of the Paris talks,” said Legarda, chair of the Senate committee on climate change.
She said the Philippines has all the reasons to ensure that a legally binding and universal climate agreement is achieved in the 2015 Paris Climate Conference.
She said that a new study done by the Asian Development Bank entitled “Global Increase in Climate-Related Disasters” looked at disasters from 1970 to 2013 and observed that if carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere continued to rise, natural hazard-prone countries like the Philippines will be hit hard.
The ADB study suggests that climate action needs to be a central component of national plans.
According to Vinod Thomas, co-author of the study and director general of the ADB’s Independent Evaluation, “Policy-makers and economic advisors have long held the view that climate action is a drain on economic growth. But the reality is opposite: the vast damage from climate-related disasters is an increasing obstacle to economic growth and well-being.”
On the eve of the COP21, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan joined protesters in Rajah Sulaiman Plaza calling for climate justice and for holding accountable the world’s worst polluters. The group also assailed the Aquino government for its “carbon hypocrisy” in relation to climate change.
Carrying streamers calling for the banning of coal plants and large-scale foreign mining in the Philippines, Bayan called President Aquino as a protector of climate polluters.
“Aquino likes to talk big in gatherings abroad but his track record is appalling when it comes to climate issues. His administration has pushed for the increased use of dirty coal plants, where nearly 70 percent of the expected new capacity in power generation will be coming from coal-fired power plants,” said Bayan Secretary General Renato M. Reyes, Jr. With Macon Ramos-Araneta