Pres. Duterte signs Paris Agreement

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the document signifying the Philippines’ accession to the Paris climate change agreement and Malacañang is transmitting it Wednesday afternoon to the Senate for concurrence. (Photo: ACE MORANDANTE/ Presidential Photo)

MANILA—President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the document signifying the Philippines’ accession to the Paris climate change agreement and Malacañang is transmitting it Wednesday afternoon to the Senate for concurrence.

The Instrument of Accession document was signed by the President Tuesday.

In his letter addressed to the Senate President and members of the Senate, Duterte said that “after examining the text thereto, I find it advisable to accede to the Paris Agreement and seek the Senate’s concurrence.”

The President previously said that he would not sign the Paris Agreement over concerns on how small countries could access the common fund.

Duterte later agreed to it after his Cabinet members unanimously voted for its ratification.

The Paris Agreement, which was signed on April 22, 2016 in New York, seeks to address climate change and cap greenhouse gas emissions.

The Agreement aims to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2⁰C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5⁰C above pre-industrial levels.

It also provides that developed countries continue their obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to provide financial assistance to developing countries with respect to both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Duterte said that under the Agreement, emissions reduction or programs for adaptation are nationally-determined and voluntary.

“Nationally-determined contributions are not mitigation-centric but also covers adaptation and requirements for finance, technology and capacity building. This will provide an opportunity to communicate to investors what the country needs in order to implement adaptation and mitigation projects,” Duterte said.