BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 12. A panel discussion on the topic “Connecting the Dots: Implementable and Investment-Ready NDCs” is being held within the framework of COP29 in Baku, Trend reports.
The Philippines' representative Maria Luwalhati Dorotan Tiuseco said that the Philippines continues to strive to reduce emissions despite serious climate threats.
"The Philippines remains committed to achieving the emission reduction and prevention goals outlined in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and its implementation plan, which aligns with the targets to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees," she said.
According to her, this is of immense importance for the Philippines as it ranks among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change.
"In less than a month, we experienced four typhoons. One of them, for the first time in history, completely flooded one of our provinces. We still do not know the extent of the damage caused by the typhoon, but people are still in evacuation centers. So, this discussion is very important for us, and personally for me as well," she noted.
"Despite the difficulties, the Philippines supports the efforts of the international community. We truly feel and believe that the problems will be resolved," added Dorotan Tiuseco.
Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for International Environmental Cooperation Zulfiya Suleimenova said that Kazakhstan is facing serious consequences of climate change.
"I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all participants for their exemplary leadership in advancing climate action for Kazakhstan. This is an issue of paramount importance, as limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius translates to a projected temperature increase of 2.5 degrees in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Therefore, for us, a rise of 2.5 degrees represents an optimistic scenario, albeit one fraught with significant risks. Your commitment and efforts are crucial in navigating these challenges and safeguarding our future," she said.
Suleimenova underscored the devastating impact of this year's severe floods in Kazakhstan, which have inundated over half the nation. This disaster has imposed substantial strain on the national budget, compelling the government to redirect crucial funds from development initiatives, renewable energy projects, and decarbonization efforts toward the urgent task of rebuilding homes and businesses. She emphasized that such extreme weather events underscore the critical importance of the discussions taking place today.
Furthermore, she highlighted that addressing climate change through both adaptation and mitigation is essential. The need for financing adaptation measures is increasingly pressing; however, if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, even greater resources will be required for effective adaptation in the future.
German Minister of State for Europe and Climate Affairs Anna Lührmann noted that Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) pose a critical tool in climate action.
"We already see what inaction leads to. If you just look around, you will notice that Brazil is experiencing the worst drought in history, and Spain has recently lost many lives due to floods. It is clear that we cannot afford to remain on the sidelines," she explained.
According to her, in the fight against climate change, it is essential to clearly and loudly convey the idea that action is a sound economic policy and NDCs are not a barrier, but rather an opportunity for economic development, including attracting finance and investments.
For countries to meet their ambitious NDC commitments, it is necessary to integrate them into the real economy and make them attractive to investors, the minister noted.
"We have already begun working on providing new economic data and real-world implementation experiences that demonstrate the short-term and long-term economic benefits of ambitious climate action. Thus, this is the first step in changing the narrative, and then, of course, it's necessary for steps to be taken from all sides to fulfill the ambitious commitments related to NDCs," added Lührmann.