Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 1) — The Philippines will showcase its campaign towards a climate resilient future as the country opened on Friday its first-ever pavilion at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
“It is extremely important for the Philippines as a climate-vulnerable country to be heard by other nations because what we’re trying to do at this point is really approach our climate resilience by twinning, adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction,” said Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, who heads the Philippine delegation to COP28.
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“That will involve the social, economic, environmental, and scientific efforts of the whole-of-government,” she added.
A pavilion is a space where parties can host events and discussions at the sidelines of the two-week international summit, where world leaders assess progress on climate change response and conduct critical negotiations dealing with the phenomenon.
For environmental groups, the space has “potential to facilitate critical intersectoral discussions for our people’s climate survival and to exhibit the Filipino solidarity for climate justice and action.”
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However, a coalition of civil society groups expressed “grave disappointment,” saying the Philippine delegation failed to “uphold meaningful participation of communities and civil society” in the pavilion.
“Unfortunately, it is clear that the inclusion of vulnerable communities and civil society is not a priority of the delegation, and the pavilion’s execution,” the Power for People Coalition and Youth for Climate Hope Philippines said.
“Despite compliance with the changing requirements from the Pavilion Committee, civil society groups without pre-existing ties with the Philippine delegation head were unable to receive formal and consistent communication regarding applications for pavilion events, including their eventual denial,” they added.
The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, Greenpeace Philippines, Laudato Si’ Movement Pilipinas, and Caritas Philippines also described it as “prejudice” against those that raise critical discussions.
They claimed the exclusion could bury crucial talks for climate action under “flashy pronouncements” to say that the Philippine government’s participation was a success.
But in her remarks at the pavilion opening, Loyzaga acknowledged civil society organizations that are part of the side events—including the Forest Foundation Philippines. She also mentioned partners like Ayala Corp. and the Asian Development Bank.
The Philippines is hosting 32 sideline events throughout COP28, covering topics on data governance, nature, land use and oceans, disaster resilience, energy transition, transforming food systems, and climate financing.
