Rich nations must pay for climate damage: Duterte

MANILA – Wealthy nations should compensate developing countries like the Philippines for the damage caused by climate change, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said on Monday night.

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

He said the Philippines, which is hit by an average of 20 typhoons every year, is among the most at risk from the effects 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 rich countries anew for being responsible for climate change impacts, noting that they spewed more carbon from their factories, homes and cars compared to 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.

He added that these wealthy nations should 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.

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

However, since he will be stepping down from office in a few weeks, he expressed hope that his successor would 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.

In March 2017, the Philippines ratified 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 the world’s emissions, has committed to reducing its emissions by 70 percent by 2030.