In a statement, sustainability think-tank Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED) urged the Philippine government to prioritize raising national ambitions to cut down climate change-inducing greenhouse gas emissions as the clock ticks for the submission of its new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.
Under the Paris Agreement, parties are mandated to submit an updated NDC that outlines their self-determined commitment to reduce emissions every five years, reflecting progressively higher ambition and taking into account common but differentiated responsibilities. Only 13 of 195 parties were able to meet the 2025 deadline slated last February 10.
“Last year’s Finance COP (Conference of Parties) indeed failed to deliver the ambitious climate finance needed by vulnerable and developing countries like the Philippines to enable climate mitigation and adaptation at the speed and scale the climate crisis requires,” explained Gerry Arances, Executive Director of CEED.
“But the disappointment that was COP29 gives no excuse to any government to delay or water down climate targets. It should instead give them even greater impetus to demand accountability from historical polluters and assert the Philippines government’s commitment to ensuring the climate survival of its people,” added Arances.
The NDC deadline came just as scientists confirmed 2024 as the first calendar year above 1.5°C warming and could signal the start of an official breach of the Paris goal unless “stringent” efforts are made to cut global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Filipino communities are constantly under siege from deadly typhoons, flooding, food insecurity, extreme heat, and many other impacts. A world beyond the 1.5°C threshold is a death sentence to our most vulnerable peoples,” Arances said.
With the dismal submission of parties, UN Climate Change Executive Director Simon Stiell urged countries to submit ‘first rate’ NDCs by no later than September this year.
“The updating of the Philippines’ NDC is a critical opportunity for the Philippine government to do right by its people. Science shows us that alignment to the 1.5°C goal is actually feasible for the energy sector, with a phaseout of both coal and gas possible for our country by no later than 2040 due to the abundance of renewables,” said Arances, citing a 2023 report by climate think-tank Climate Analytics.
“The government should brace itself: communities and civil society will allow only an NDC that actually aligns to 1.5°C,” Arances added.
