Quezon City, Philippines – The National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP) expressed disappointment over the developments from the recently concluded 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) by the United Nations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai. “Being from one of the most affected countries by long-term impacts of the climate crisis, we are gravely disappointed over the weak developments in COP28,” said the newly-elected General Secretary, Ms. Minnie Anne Mata-Calub.
“Our churches are witnesses to the real-time impacts of the climate crisis, and we’re seeing how communities in the Philippines are being pushed by the crisis to adapt because failure to do so would mean hunger, displacement, or even slow death for them,” said Ms. Calub. “This is why the failure of COP28 to address the significant need for support in Loss and Damage and reparations hits close to home. Our first disappointment was on the meager support garnered by the Loss and Damage Fund from wealthy nations, especially from big polluters. With the great humanitarian and development need caused by the climate crisis, these drops in the bucket are simply not enough.” It is noted that at the beginning of the plenary in COP28, wealthy countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, France, US and Japan have pledged a total of just over $700 million or less than 0.2% of the global annual target of $400 billion USD.
“We are also dismayed over the watering down of the commitment to phase out fossil fuels, in the plenary discussions and COP text. At this point in time, humanity deserves nothing short of the phaseout of the dirty industries that gave birth to the climate crisis.”
Ms. Calub’s remark refers to the draft text released by the COP28 presidency which called for “reducing both the consumption and production of fossil fuels, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, so as to achieve net zero by, before or around 2050, in keeping with the science”. It is noted that the Global Stocktake (GST) latest text avoided the terms “phase out” or phase down”.
The General Secretary-elect recognized that the advocacy and action for climate justice also continues with the national government and most-affected communities. “Thus, we also call on the Philippine national government to make our country a conducive space for climate action by putting an end to the bloody trail of attacks against environmental and human rights defende
rs, starting with the repeal of all laws and policies that enable rights abuses such as the Anti-Terrorism Law.”
“Lastly, we laud the civil society organizations, people’s organizations, faith-based organizations, and communities themselves who keep God’s call to be stewards of Creation alive through their environmental protection and advocacy for climate justice. As the climate crisis remains ill-addressed, our call for urgent climate action and accountability must escalate.’” ###
