“Stupid” and “absurd” were the exact words used by President Rodrigo Duterte to describe the country’s participation in the historic Paris Agreement on climate change.
The President made it pretty clear that he was not interested in honoring the pact that the Philippines adopted, along with about 200 countries, in December, 2015, at the 21st Conference of Parties in France.
He said that the pact would only limit the country’s industrial growth.
“We have not reached the age of industrialization. We’re now going into it. But you are trying to stymie [our growth] with an agreement that says you can only go up to here,” said the President about the Paris agreement during the send-off of Philippine Olympics athletes on Mon, Jul 18, in Malacañan Palace.
He also said that he wanted to kick an ambassador who reminded him of the country’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gases.
Although the Philippines is a signatory to the pact, Duterte reportedly said, “That was not my signature. It’s not mine … I will not follow.”
Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, represented then President Aquino during a signing ceremony in New York in April this year.
“The Paris Agreement pegged global efforts toward limiting the increase in temperature to 1.5 C above preindustrial levels. In April, four months after the hard-won deal was clinched in Paris, the Philippines along with more than 170 countries signed the climate pact.After signing, countries must formally approve the Paris Agreement through their domestic procedures.” Inquirer reports.
