Vice-Chairperson of Climate Change Commission of Philippines to QNA: HH the Amir’s Visit Represents Starting Point for Broader Cooperation to Adress Climate Change

HE Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission of the Republic of the Philippines Robert Borje emphasized that the Visit of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani to the Philippines represents a significant starting point for broader and expanded cooperation between the two countries regarding the efforts to combat climate change. In his remarks to Qatar News Agency , His Excellency said that the visit of HH the Amir would encourage the identification of goals, priorities, and areas of common interest related to the mitigation and adaptation of the effects of climate change, in addition to exchanging ideas and experiences in addressing relevant challenges and stimulating innovative solutions and methods that suit the specific contexts and needs of both countries. His Excellency added that the Philippines realizes that cooperation between countries is necessary to confront the urgent and complex challenges posed by climate change. He pointed out that through bilateral cooper ation between Qatar and the Philippines, knowledge, resources, and best practices can be exchanged to mitigate the climate risks that the two countries may face. HE Borje stressed that cooperation with the State of Qatar to move towards renewable energy sources and adopt sustainable practices is vital to achieving international climate goals, such as those stipulated in the Paris Agreement to confront climate change that was reached during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in 2015. He stressed that the Philippines requires support in adapting to the impacts of climate change. "Cooperation with Qatar can facilitate access to funding, technology, and expertise to strengthen climate resilience and protect vulnerable communities," he said. His Excellency also praised Qatar's commitment and its support for global efforts to confronting climate change. "Qatar's efforts to enhance its climate policies, invest in renewable energy, and promote sustainable development demonstrate its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate risks," he said. He said that cooperation between Qatar and other countries is essential for accelerating progress towards a low-carbon economy and building resilience to climate impacts. He pointed out that cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Philippines in confronting climate change would contribute to strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations and would also provide many opportunities in various sectors, including agriculture, food security, renewable energy, and the ability to withstand and adapt to climate change, urban and sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, climate finance and technology transfer, research and innovation, and water resources management. His Excellency also noted Qatar National Environment and Climate Change Strategy and Qatar National Climate Change Action Plan 2030, which highlight s Qatar's commitment to climate action and adherence to international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement. He said that both documents fit with the Philippines National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), developed in 2011, which enables both countries to cooperate together to achieve their ambitious goals in that regard. In a related context, HE the Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission of the Republic of the Philippines praised Qatar's hosting of the Expo 2023 Doha, stressing that this global event offered a platform a platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collective action on pressing global challenges, including climate change. "Qatar's hosting of Expo 2023 signals the country's commitment to forge partnerships and alliances between countries, organizations, and stakeholders to address climate change. The Expo 2023 Doha also facilitates networking and collaboration with international partners, fostering relationships that can lead to joint projects, research collaborations, and technology transfers," he said. Regarding the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) forum's i nterest in the environment and climate change, the Philippine official explained that issues of climate change and environmental sustainability have emerged as major priorities within the ACD agenda, which reflects the growing recognition of the urgent need for collective action to address these global challenges. His Excellency believed that the State of Qatar and the Philippines could work to explore ways of cooperation in the field of environment and climate action, especially with regard to strategies for mitigating climate change; exchanging knowledge, best practices, and technologies related to renewable energy, sustainable development, reducing emissions; joint research projects on the ability to enhance resilience to climate change and adapting with it; and disaster risk reduction that helps strengthen environmental preparedness. Concluding his remarks to QNA, HE the Vice-Chairperson and Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission of the Republic of the Philippines stressed the importance of official agreements to establish a regulatory framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of climate, biodiversity preservation, marine protection, ecosystem restoration, as well as training, research, and innovation, in addition to providing technical expertise and capacity building programs to Filipino institutions and communities. Source: Qatar News Agency