MANILA, Philippines – The visit of French President Francois Hollande to the Philippines later this week is a chance to highlight the lack of global action against climate change, said Filipino activists.

In a press conference on Tuesday, February 24, members of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) said they will use the visit as a way to tell powerful countries like France that they are not doing enough about global warming.

“This is an important opportunity to remind him (Hollande) what his obligations are to Filipinos and other suffering countries. Developed countries have a huge share in causing the problem of climate change and solving the problem of climate change,” said the group’s convenor Lidy Nacpil.

The French embassy has said that climate change is among the major topics Hollande’s visit will tackle.

Aside from discussing bilateral issues like trade and politics, the visit is meant to build momentum for a historic climate change conference to be hosted by France this November to December.

Called the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21), it is expected to come up with a new legally-binding international agreement in which governments will pledge to reduce their carbon emissions. The agreement will replace the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which many consider a failed agreement.

As host of the talks, France plays a major role in ensuring its success. A statement indicated that Hollande has made the success of the summit a personal goal: “I shall involve myself personally and go everywhere where France’s voice, the voice of the country organizing the conference, can be heard.”

‘Mere posturing’

The way things are going, Nacpil said she is not confident a concrete and progressive agreement will be made in Paris. 

Developed countries like France, she said, aren’t up to scratch when it comes to making impactful commitments in the fight against climate change.

“They are posturing that they are already doing enough for climate change when, in truth, all these actions and commitments they have pledged so far is nowhere near enough to save the planet and keep temperature rise below 2 degrees [Celsius],” said Nacpil.

With all country commitments accounted for, the planet is still expected to warm by 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, a level at which scientists say climate change is likely to become irreversible and more destructive.

Developed countries have also not lived up to their promise to put $100 billion into the Green Climate Fund (GCF), said PMCJ national coordinator Gerry Arances.

The GCF is a fund to help poorer nations prepare for and recover from the devastating impacts of a warming planet. These impacts include stronger typhoons, sea level rise and debilitating droughts.

France already pledged $1 billion to the fund bringing the total amount of funds to only $10.2 billion. But Arances argues that damage from Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) alone cost the Philippines P89.6 billion ($2 billion).

“Is it enough? How big really is $1 billion or P44.3 billion?” he asked.

The ‘Manila Appeal’

Hollande is also expected to make a joint call to climate action with President Benigno Aquino III during his visit. But PMCJ says the so-called “Manila Appeal” will only be credible if it is backed up by consistent policies from both presidents.

While France is the European Union’s biggest producer of renewable energy and has passed energy reform laws, it is still heavily reliant on imports of fossil fuel, specifically petroleum, said Arances.

And though it has managed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 40% in 20 years, it was only able to do so by generating nuclear energy. 

The Philippines under Aquino has not fared any better, said the group.

Despite a landmark Renewable Energy Act, the administration has approved 59 coal plants for construction from 2014 to 2020. Congress is also in the process of approving emergency powers for Aquino that could spur unregulated construction of coal plants to solve the projected 2015 power crisis.

“Let’s hope this visit is not just for photo ops and pogi points. These two presidents will only be believable if the policies in their countries mirror the sufficient action,” says Nacpil.

PMCJ is planning to stage a rally during the February 26 climate change forum at the National Museum in Manila which Hollande is expected to attend. They are also planning to tap Yolanda victims for a protest during his visit to Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the day after. – Rappler.com