Better response to climate issues seen
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. believes climate change mitigation measures are “to be felt more” globally following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit that just wrapped up in Bangkok, Thailand.
According to him, it is “very encouraging to see” that member economies “seem to have a great deal of commonality” in addressing problems that the world is facing. Apart from climate change, the world has other issues that should be prioritized such as food security, clean energy and postpandemic economic recovery efforts.
“So, that’s very encouraging for me because we all at least agree at the very start. We agree on what needs to be addressed, what solution is needed, more or less. Of course, it is not exact since everybody comes from a slightly different place,” the Chief Executive said in his arrival speech last Saturday night.
He further noted that leaders of APEC countries, as well as guest participants, acknowledged that while there are policies in place to address the global issue, little has actually been done to slow down the effects of climate change, an “overarching” concern throughout the gathering.
“You start off talking about the economy, you end up somehow at some point talking about climate change and so, I think, there will be a very strong push,” stated Marcos.
“The APEC countries have said that we have many agreements that are in place, but there’s very little that has been actually done. And so, that is going to be the push by APEC, by Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), by the Asia-Pacific countries,” he added.
In one of his interventions at the APEC gathering, Marcos called for all countries to have “increased interconnectedness and interdependence of peoples and economies brought about by globalization, [which] has led to the progressive world we live in today.”
The Philippines, being “one of the economies at greatest risk from the climate crisis”, will be among the nations in the Asia-Pacific that will ensure agreements related to climate change mitigation will be enforced.
“Since we are essentially the developed countries that have not — cannot be said to have put the world in this situation. It is also up to us to go to those developed countries who have had their development... But unfortunately, because we were ignorant of such things, they ended up changing the weather in the world,” said the President.
Aside from global warming, other issues which were commonly discussed were supply chains, food supply, digitalization and women empowerment, he added.
“It was a very useful and productive process because as I said, we have now a way forward for all of us members of APEC,” Marcos stated.
“The ultimate aspiration is for the Asia-Pacific region to return to its old role as a driver of the global economy. And if we do all of the things that we are planning to do, that will come back again. And once again, we will be at the forefront of the global economy,” he added.