By PR 02:13 PM November 30, 2023
The provincial government, led by Gov. Aris Aumentado, is participating in the Conference of Parties (COP)28, the annual global climate conference in Dubai.
The annual United Nations summit, which will be participated in by some 70,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries, is taking place as the world is poised to shatter another record for the hottest year in 2023, and as new reports confirm countries’ current climate pledges are not enough to avert the worst impacts of global warming.
Aumentado’s visit to Dubai was on the invitation of United Arab Emirates Ambassador Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Al-Zaabi.
The governor will join fellow local leaders as well as business and non-government organization representatives at the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit on Dec. 1-2.
Organized by the COP28 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, the summit is said to be the first-of-its-kind to bring together climate leaders to align, share and advance climate action.
Aumentado has been championing climate action as embodied in the strategic change agenda of the provincial government on environmental sustainability.
On Bohol Day in July, he issued Executive Order No. 35 that launched and established the “Bohol: First Regenerative Island Project”, seen to become the framework for environmental initiatives.
This also complements the province’s designation as the country’s first and only UNESCO Global Geopark.
Bohol’s vulnerabilities to the changing climate especially felt during Typhoon “Odette” makes Aumentado’s climate action agenda timely and relevant.
He is anticipating this engagement with world leaders in recognition of the importance of meaningful collaboration, cooperation, and complementation that will help ensure livable communities and heritage preservation.
The summit revolves around core themes of transforming local climate finance, integrating local contributions to enhance global action, fast tracking local energy transition and strengthening local resilience and adaptation.
While COP28 gathers world leaders for crucial agreements concerning the climate crisis, it also recognizes the critical role that local leaders play in reducing emissions, addressing climate risk, and amplifying national efforts to move further and faster on climate progress.
The governor is expected to meet with at least a dozen or more leaders and Boholano communities in Dubai, but that will still be subject for consultations.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is no longer attending the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, the chief executive said Thursday, just hours before the start of the critical conference.
Pope Francis cancelled his trip due to health reasons. President Marcos, who has often mentioned the need to address climate change in his speeches, announced his last-minute decision to skip COP28 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga will lead the Philippine delegation.(PIMO/LMS)
