20 December 2009

Philippine climate activists outraged at outcome of Copenhagen climate talks

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (19 DECEMBER 2009)- Climate activists from the Philippines express their dismay and opposition to  the non-binding Copenhagen Accord and the adoption made by the Philippine government for it in the recent concluded 15^th Conference of Partice (COP 15) in Copenhagen.

"We saw it coming. Based on the earlier pronouncements of the US officials before the COP 15, the US and other rich industrial countries are working for a non-binding international climate agreement," says Mr. Clemente Bautista of the environmental activists group KALIKASAN People's Network for the Environment and convenor of Philippine Climate Watch Alliance (PCWA). KALIKASAN-PNE and PCWA were among the several Philippine-based organizations that participate in the talks by raising awareness on the environmental issues faced by the local grassroots sectors.

The Copenhagen Accord was brokered by the United States during a closed door meeting last Friday night with the BASIC countries: Brazil, South Africa, India and China. Several third world countries including the Philippines and Columbia which are close allies of the US also help in brokering the deal. Riddled with transparency issues, the document failed to come up with a binding commitment for a significant global carbon reduction.

"We are terribly disappointed over the Philippine delegation's decision to lobby and support the non-binding Copenhagen Accord which does not commit the developed countries to specific targets on emissions cuts and the a deadline of implementation. The Philippines is very vocal in demanding a binding commitment for a 45% carbon reduction from rich capitalist countries. Also the Philippines was previously a key player in consolidating the position of the G77 in the climate negotitation.

But with the pressure from US officials like Sec. Hillary Clinton and President Arroyo's action to remove progressive personalities and climate experts in the Philippine delegation among them is Ms. Bernarditas Muller, our delegation easily folded up and supported the US brokered Copenhagen Accord in the conference," explains Mr. Bautista.

"The undemocratic process that the Copenhagen Accord went through and the bullying of the American delegation show how rich countries like the US preserve its interests at the expense of the welfare of the poor nations and the environment," adds Mr. Bautista.

The Accord sets the target to limit global temperature to a maximum of 2 degrees instead of the 1.5 degrees demanded by African and small island countries like Sudan and Tuvalu. Even though the document promises to review on 2015 the possibility of reaching the 1.5 degrees target, various groups who attended the COP15 are skeptic if the review will even take place.

Meanwhile, youth from the Philippines voiced their displeasure over Philippine support given to the Accord.

"They (Philippine delegation) bargained the future of the Filipino youth for a few billion pesos of climate aid that is not even confirmed to benefit them because the treaty is non-binding." says Ms. Marjorie Pamintuan of Agham Youth. Ms. Pamintuan participated in the COP15 with 350.org, an international movement campaigning for the lowering the carbon in the atmosphere to 350ppm.

Aside from the 2 degrees Celsius limit, the accord supposedly commits the developed countries to raise climate funds for vulnerable nations.

"The $30 billion that is to be provided by rich countries for vulnerable nations between 2010 and 2012, and the $100 billion dollars from public and private sources to be available after 2020 could hardly be considered any help at all since majority of these will be in the form of loans. Like in the past, foreign loans will again bury the Filipinos into much deeper national debt and higher taxes," adds Ms. Pamintuan.

Ms. Pamintuan further points out that "additional national debts means larger budget cuts for services like education and health since a large portion of the national budget is appropriated for debt servicing. With a destroyed environment, unhealthy bodies and without education, what kind of future does the Filipino youth have?"

Meggie Nolasco, spokeperson of alliance of climate activists PCWA also lambasted President Arroyo for supporting the US and the climate accord.

"Mrs. Arroyo came home proud of the $380 million pledge of clean technology and forestry investment funds from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. However, these funds will most likely be allocated to hoax technological and market-based solutions like 'clean' coal power plants, forest and biofuel plantations. These will further facilitate the exploitation of our energy and forest resources and will surely result to massive degradation and pollution of our environment by foreign corporations," explains Ms. Nolasco.

Under the Copenhagen Accord, the REDD Plus (reducing emission from forest degradation and deforestation) another market-based mechanism were introduced. Governments and private will be given financial rewards and carbon emission credits for 'preserving' their forest. REDD plus, in principle, will allow the privatization of forest lands and resources to the hands of private corporations such as logging companies.

Ms. Nolasco explains further adds that "if the government is serious on addressing climate change, it should prioritize people's needs by immediately scrapping destructive environmental policies like the Mining Act of 1995, stop the building of new coal projects and preserve our national patrimony. At the same time, it should uphold Philippine sovereignty and act in the interest of the Filipino people by standing firmly with the other nations in demanding that developed countries, especially the US, to commit to an effective, fair and legally binding climate deal. Any further delays in coming up with effective solutions will jeopardize the whole planet." ends Ms. Nolasco.###