COP28: PH, WEF sign pacts on blue carbon, plastics

The Philippines and the World Economic Forum (WEF) have signed agreements on blue carbon ecosystem and address plastic pollution at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai.

Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippine government with WEF Center for Nature and Climate managing director Neo Gim Huay.

Huay said the two agreements are significant as they deal with the environment, particularly on efforts of both the Philippine government and the WEF on how to protect and restore blue carbon ecosystem and address plastic pollution.

Blue carbon refers to carbon dioxide that is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean.

“The Philippines is a very important economy being an archipelago. So, we hope that these agreements can catalyze a lot more communities, initiatives, public policy and corporate involvement in addressing and protecting our ecosystems,” Gim Huay said.

“The government is putting in place very progressive policies to address plastic pollutions including the extended producer responsibility where producers also need to be responsible and help manage the ways from consumption,” Gim Huay added.

She said that she loves the “kinds of blue carbon marine protection projects” in the Philippines as she recalled her experience diving in the Tubbataha, which she considered as “one of the best marine parks in the world.”

Gim Huay also highlighted the importance of working closely with the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to ensure a sustainable ecosystem  and is open to global collaboration.

WEF head of Ocean Action Agenda and Friends of Ocean Action Alfredo Giron Nava echoed Gim Huay sentiments, saying that the support of the Marcos administration for this agreement is “extremely instrumental” as he emphasized that it will not materialize without the help of the government.

After the signing of the two agreements, both the Philippines and the WEF will start sharing best practices to the communities, civil societies and corporate sector to translate the agreements “into practical progress,” according to Gim Huay.—RF, GMA Integrated News