President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday bared that one of his administration’s top priority is to address the problems stemming from climate change but warned that it should not stall economic growth. SCREENGRAB FROM RTVM
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said that one of his administration’s top priority is to address the problems stemming from climate change but warned that it should not stall economic growth.
In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), Duterte said that his administration would address the effects of climate change.
READ: Duterte says ‘No’ to historic climate change pact
“Addressing climate change shall be a top priority but upon a fair and equitable equation. It should not stymie our industrialization,” Duterte said.
Duterte has earlier stated that he will not honor the historic Paris Agreement, saying that it is “stupid.”
READ: Rody won’t honor Paris climate pact
“We have not reached the age of industrialization. We’re now going into it. But you are trying to stymie [our growth] with an agreement that says you can only go up to here. That’s stupid. I will not honor that,” the President earlier said.
The Philippines has pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent in 2030 when it signed the agreement last April. RAM/rga
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