By Veronica Corral
President Rodrigo Duterte urged countries with the biggest carbon emission contributions to pay for the damages experienced by tropical zone countries with low emission contributions, including the Philippines.
During the April 18 “Talk to the People,” the President highlighted the need to make industrialized countries accountable for the casualties in countries extremely suffering from the effects of climate change.
“[Dapat] ‘yung mga industrialized countries na hindi tinatamaan ng mga typhoons and calamities pero sila ‘yung pinakamalaki na contributor ng carbon emissions, eh magbayad sila,” he said.
“…’Yung resulta ng mga pollution ng ibang countries tayo ang sumasalo. Pagdating sa damage tayo rin ang pinakakawawa,” he added.
Duterte said the country’s carbon emissions only averages from “point zero something” while other industrialized countries are reaching double-digit numbers.
“Iyong damage natin mas malaki tapos maliit ang ating contribution doon sa climate change. Iyan ang isang problemang kaharapin ng Pilipinas for the next generations to come. Unless there is a radical change of the weather patterns, mahirapan tayo dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.
Aside from reducing carbon footprints, Duterte only hoped that the next administration will also enforce better efforts in mitigating the impact of climate change in the country.
Duterte’s statement came after his recent visit in Agaton-stricken Leyte on Good Friday and typhoon-hit Capiz on Black Saturday. To date, 175 individuals have been reported dead due to the tropical storm. – ag
