On Thursday, November 3, President Rodrigo Duterte expressed a change of heart by stating that he is willing to approve the Paris climate deal if his legal advisers deem it positive for the Philippines.
Recall that Duterte had once referred to the deal as “stupid” and “absurd” but he may now be seeing the light as he told reporters, “I will follow what my advisers would tell me. If (environment secretary) Gina Lopez would say it’s good, and if the legal adviser says that I should sign, then I will sign.”
The President adds, “The only problem is the paper is not yet with me. I cannot approve or disapprove anything that is not on my table.”
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Duterte is considering to have the agreement examined by his legal team due to “some progressive clauses” that could possibly affect our country, “I will see if I have leeway and elbow room to move because the treaty now that is being signed or passed around for signing is binding.”
In relation to this, as of this morning, members of the House special committee on climate change expressed they are going to try convincing President Duterte to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Committee chair Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe had stated at a recent hearing that his panel is going to relay the benefits of approving the Paris deal to Duterte.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. said, “I think we know that the President is reasonable. If we can explain properly to him that we will be allowed to put up coal-fired power plants, then I’m sure that he will change his stance.”
Chair of the Senate committee on climate change, Sen. Loren Legarda, called on the Climate Change Commission (CCC) as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) into working jointly for the ratification of the treaty in the Philippines.
The Paris climate pact takes effect this Friday, November 4. The agreement aims to maintain global temperature rise below two degrees Celsius for the entire century and to reduce temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Sources: (philstar.com, globalnation.inquirer.net, manilatimes.net, radyo.inquirer.net)
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