SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines has yet to ratify the Paris Agreement, a legally binding deal that mandates both developed and developing countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, the culprit behind climate change.
Whether or not the Philippines will do so hangs in the air as President Rodrigo Duterte hasn’t decided on it.
Duterte expressed his misgivings about the deal, citing how it may limit the country’s economic growth. But he said he’s open to ratifying it if proven “fair” to all. (READ: Kerry and Duterte discuss Paris climate agreement)
The Philippine government’s lukewarm stance today is a harsh departure from its aggressive position in the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21). The country campaigned hard in COP21 to make the Paris deal more ambitious, pushing for a lower global temperature limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius, instead of 2 degrees.
Despite the government’s flip-flopping, it’s worth noting that the country has already established laws, policies, and programs on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The challenge remains to be fostering aggressive and effective implementation.
Below is a timeline of the country’s actions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. – Rappler.com