The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is a landmark agreement to combat climate change. Under the agreement, countries around the world committed to limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a target of 1.5 degrees Celsius.
One of the countries that committed to the Paris Agreement is the Philippines. The Philippines is a particularly vulnerable country to the impacts of climate change, with its geography and location making it susceptible to typhoons, flooding, and other natural disasters.
The Philippines submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2017, which outlines its commitments under the Paris Agreement. The NDC includes reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030, compared to a business-as-usual scenario. This reduction target is conditional on the availability of financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity building support from developed countries.
In addition to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, the Philippines` NDC also includes plans to enhance its adaptation measures to address the impacts of climate change. These measures include strengthening coastal protection, undertaking reforestation and afforestation efforts, and implementing early warning systems and improved disaster risk reduction measures.
The Philippines has also been actively involved in international climate negotiations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP) meetings. In 2018, the Philippines hosted the Global Climate Action Summit, which brought together local governments, businesses, civil society, and other stakeholders to take action on climate change.
However, despite its commitment to the Paris Agreement, the Philippines is facing challenges in implementing its NDC. These challenges include a lack of financial resources and the need for greater technical capacity to implement adaptation and mitigation measures.
In conclusion, the Philippines has demonstrated its commitment to the Paris Agreement through its NDC submission and active involvement in international climate negotiations. However, it is clear that greater support is needed to ensure the Philippines can effectively implement its commitments under the Paris Agreement and address the impacts of climate change.