PRRD: Wealthy nations should pay for climate damage

• 

MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said on Monday night that wealthy countries must compensate developing countries like the Philippines for the damage caused by climate change.

Duterte said in a prerecorded Talk to the People that he is saddened by the loss of lives and destruction of properties caused by Tropical Storm Agaton.

He stated that the Philippines, which is struck by an average of 20 typhoons each year, is one of the countries most vulnerable to the consequences of the climate crisis.

“Yung resulta ng pollution ng ibang countries, tayo ang sumasalo. Pagdating sa damage, tayo rin ang pinaka kawawa (We bear the brunt of the result of pollution from other countries. When it comes to damages, we also suffer the most),” he said.

Duterte blamed wealthy nations once again for the consequences of climate change, stating that they emitted more carbon from their factories, residences, and vehicles than developing countries.

“Sila yung may pinaka maraming factory and in some industrialized places halos every kanto may factory (They have more factories and in some industrialized places, there are factories in almost every corner) Unfortunately sila yung (they are) biggest contributor ng carbon emissions dito sa mundong ito (in this world),” he said.

These wealthy nations, he added, must compensate developing countries for failing to live up to their commitments under the climate change pact.

“Dapat ang mga mayaman na hindi tinatamaan ng destruction caused by itong pollution, bayaran nila tayo (The wealthy nations not affected by the destruction caused by pollution should pay us) for the damage,” he added.

According to Duterte, climate change will remain a problem “for the next generations to come” unless it is addressed.

However, because he would be leaving office in a few weeks, he expressed optimism that his successor will do a better job in addressing climate change.

“I hope the next administration, mas maganda ang ano nila (they would do better) the preparation or whatever efforts that would contribute to at least remedy the situation. With that, I leave it to the next administration. Alam ko mas makaya pa nila kaysa akin (I know they can a do a better job than me),” he said.

The Philippines ratified in March 2017 the Paris climate pact — a worldwide effort to achieve a below 2-degrees Celsius increase in global temperatures.

The Philippines, which accounts for less than 1 percent of global emissions, has pledged to reduce its emissions by 70% by 2030.