MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, March 6, invited Australia to partner with the Philippines in terms of climate change efforts and in the renewable energy industry as he laid out the country’s comprehensive plans to boost those sectors.
Speaking during the leaders’ plenary session at the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, President Marcos said that the Philippines has taken concrete measures by implementing policies and initiatives to reduce emissions by catalyzing investments in the country’s rich sources of renewable energy.
President Marcos also welcomed Australia’s aim to boost clean energy trade, financing, and investment in ASEAN and its support for clean energy transition to meet climate action objectives.
“We thus invite Australia to partner with the Philippines in our clean, green,
and renewable energy industry and other emerging technologies, and introduce energy efficiency and conservation measures,” President Marcos told Australia and the ASEAN leaders.
In his country statement, the President said the Philippine government is taking bold and decisive actions both domestically and in international fora for climate change as it remains vulnerable to the harsh effects of climate change.
He also said the Philippines welcomes the outcomes of the COP28, or the 28th Session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai last year.
President Marcos reiterated before the leaders the offer to host the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund in the Philippines.
“Hosting the Board in the Philippines would showcase global commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that the voices and experiences of the most affected countries are heard and considered in shaping the most urgent of global climate policies,” he said.
In terms of ASEAN Centres of Excellence, President Marcos has urged Australia to continue its support for the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) beyond 2024.
“As we develop the ASEAN-Australia Plan of Action 2025-2029, let us take into account the pressing need for an effective and inclusive implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and establishment of its goals and targets on biodiversity conservation, climate action, ecosystems and— ecosystems restoration and its management,” President Marcos said.
“The ACB is also implementing the Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the One Health Capacity development project, a partnership among ASEAN, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Australian Government,” he added.
President Marcos and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership (JDSP) in September last year, elevating the bilateral ties between the Philippines and Australia from comprehensive to strategic partnership.
Facilitating deeper cooperation in a range of areas including climate action, education, development and people-to-people exchanges are among the agreements covered under the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia. (PND)
