Religious leaders urged to support 70% carbon reduction target

The Interfaith Dialogue on Climate Change convenors here today rally the religious leaders to support Pres. Benigno S. Aquino’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) target of 70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of the Philippines by 2030.

The target reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions was submitted to the United Nations earlier this month by PNoy as Chair of the Climate Change Commission.

Climate Change Commissioner Heherson T. Alvarez, main convenor of the IFD, stressed the relevance of the INDC target to mitigate the effects of climate change to some 200 representatives from the different faith-based organizations, the academe, government agencies, the youth and the indigenous peoples gathered during 11^th Regional Conference held at the Grand Menseng Hotel, Davao City.

Alvarez, who is optimistic that within the 15-year period, the Aquino reduction target would be met, said, “Our President have set an ambitious goal to achieve, and with the emergence of lower cost in technology of hydro, wind and geothermal, all of which our country have in abundance, the Philippines would be a global exemplar among the world’s nations.

Earlier, interfaith leaders and co-convenors, Bishop Noel A. Pantoja of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, head of the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines, lauded the carbon reduction targets set by the Aquino administration saying, “The targets was sufficiently ambitious for the Philippines, one of the most battered countries, annually ravaged by fierce storm surges and super typhoons.”

Participating groups presented their concerns in the region through the workshop in the afternoon. The outputs of this workshop will also be used in preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties- 21^st session (COP 21) to be held in Paris, France next month.

Welcome remarks was given by Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional director Joselin Marcus E. Fragada. Resource speakers include Fr. Joel Tabora, president of Ateneo de Davao University, Dr. Esteban Godilano, resident scientist of the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines, and Imam Esmael Tahir, chairman of the Davao City Islamic Daawah.

First convened in 2010, the IFD has conducted 10 regional dialogues and three national conferences, and this next conference marks the 11th leg of the series. The IFD is co-convened by the Climate Change Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippine Council for Evangelical Churches, the Climate Change Congress of the Philippines, and the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy.