Palace exec: We ‘will be guided’ by Ramos’ remarks on climate pact

A Malacañang official on Monday said the Duterte administration “will be guided” by former President Fidel Ramos' statements on the need to ratify the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. 

“We appreciate former President FVR's advice. We will be guided by the wisdom of former President FVR,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a text message to reporters. 

Andanar was reacting to the newspaper column of Ramos entitled “Climate change: Attention P Digong, Cabinet and Congress” published over the weekend. 

Ramos said President Rodrigo Duterte was "full of S....T" if he thought his diatribes against the Philippines' allies and the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change Agreement was his God-given destiny, given that his rejection of the climate agreement was akin to him and the entire country "shooting [themselves] in the mouth."

Ramos pointed out that mitigating the effects of climate change required international cooperation and collective positive action, and that this collective action was embodied in the Paris climate agreement.

He explained that Duterte was wrong if he thought the agreement limited greenhouse gas emissions similarly among participating countries, not taking into account the major responsibilities developed countries have to the problem while also stunting the economic progress of developing nations.

Ramos argued further that failure to ratify the Paris Agreement would limit the Philippines' participation in the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakesh to mere observers, and we would thus be unable to advance the interests of the country.

Ratification, however, will "enable us to secure more investments towards our climate goals and gain access to the financial, technological, and capacity-building support to be provided to parties of the Agreement."

Ramos concluded by calling on Duterte to approve the Paris Agreement "forthwith", and "certify it for Senate ratification to promote our country’s interests and fight for climate justice.”

Duterte earlier said that he wast not keen on honoring the 2015 Paris Agreement, as it will only slow down the country’s move towards economic growth.

“Yes, we are a signatory to that agreement and would you be able to maintain your emissions?" Duterte said in a speech on July 18. “No, I cannot tell.”

“I will not honor that. Sabi niya: ‘But you signed the—’ That was not my signature. Somebody else’s, not mine. Sabi ko... I will not follow,” he added. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ, GMA News