Trusteeship Council Chamber, UN Headquarters
23 September 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III called on world leaders to start working together to address the effects of climate change especially to countries that are most vulnerable like the Philippines during the United Nations Climate Summit held at the UN Headquarters in New York City.

“Everyone here has to do everything they can to address climate change, without first waiting for their neighbors to engage in action. The Philippines is not waiting. We are addressing climate change to the maximum with our limited resources,” said President Aquino.

He also enumerated the government climate actions and plans to lessen the impact of disasters brought about by climate change. These include weather forecasting, multi-hazard and geohazard mapping, re-greening program and tagging public expenditure on climate change to ensure fund allocation, among others.

The President also highlighted the country’s passage of the Renewable Energy Act in 2008, and the continuing tread to a climate-smart development pathway.

“Climate change does not recognize national boundaries, or political or economic affiliations. Together we must face these challenges and surmount them, or together we will suffer the consequences of inaction,” President Aquino concluded.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited and asked global leaders to bring forth their climate action plans to the Summit and come up with an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Paris next year.

*  *  *