May 17, 2023 Wednesday
Manila, Philippines, 17 May 2023 — In the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Regional Consultation for Asia, the Philippines underscored the importance of global collective action to transform developing countries’ vulnerabilities to climate resilience.
“It is only through global collective action that we can transform our developing countries' vulnerabilities, and avert, minimize and address existing losses and damages in order to achieve climate resilience,” Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson and Executive Director (VCED) Robert E.A. Borje said.
Under the Ghana Presidency, the CVF conducted regional consultations in the lead up to the 58th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the 28th Meeting of Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC.
Prioritizing the following elements: Global Stocktake, accelerated adaptation action, loss and damage, 1.5 degrees Celsius ambition, and climate finance, VCED Borje emphasized the need to anchor climate action on the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and climate justice.
“Allow me to reiterate the importance of working on the principle of climate justice – for those who are least responsible for climate change, those with the least resources, and those who are most vulnerable and at risk, the world has to do more,” said VCED Borje.
He added, “Conversely – for those most responsible for climate change, with the most resources, they need to do more. For us, this is climate justice.”
The CVF is composed of 58 vulnerable nations including the Philippines, and is currently chaired by the government of Ghana.
In 2015, the Philippines chaired the CVF. Under its presidency, the Vulnerable 20 (V20) group was officially founded, and the #1.5 degrees Celsius Campaign was launched ahead of the Conference of the Parties in Paris.
During the consultation, the Philippines reiterated its support and commitment to the CVF and V20, as part of collective efforts in attaining the global climate agenda.
“The CCC and our allies in Congress, most especially Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda who also serves as a CVF Ambassador for Parliaments, remain committed to the work of CVF and V20 in promoting ambitious climate action to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable, developing nations,” VCED Borje said.
The CCC also serves as the CVF National Focal Point of the Philippines, as the Department of Finance in the V20.
The CVF Regional Consultation for Asia was held in preparation for the upcoming climate change negotiations in June and November 2023, in Bonn, Germany and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, respectively.
For updates on the Philippines participation in international climate negotiations, visit the website of the CCC at https://climate.gov.ph.
