“On a personal basis, I see my own role in the climate process as a mentor and enabler”
THE 28th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from Nov 30-Dec 12, 2023.
More than 70,000 delegates attended COP 28, including heads of state and government, ministers and ambassadors, diplomats, other government officials, civil society representatives, leaders of indigenous peoples, environmental and climate justice activists, conservationists, local government officials, labor leaders, religious and faith based advocates, young peoples, business leaders, representatives of vulnerable sectors like people with disabilities, women, children, and fossil fuel and other lobbyists.
The Klima Team of Manila Observatory was in Dubai during the whole length of COP 28.
I led our team composed of Hazel Acero, Jayvy Gamboa, Thea Uyguangco, Joy Reyes, and Bernardine De Belen. This was Joy’s third COP, Hazel’s second, and the first COP of Jayvy,Thea, and Bernardine.
In my case, this was my 23rd COP, having missed only five in the last 30 years. I have been a head of delegation, a lead negotiator, a facilitator, an academic, and an activist in these climate meetings.
We also adopted several colleagues from Parabukas, Ateneo de Naga, Tofu Creatives, etc in our delegation. In addition, Manila Observatory affiliated scientists Doctors Fay Cruz, Rosa Perez, and Monica Ortiz were technical advisers in the Philippine Delegation. Our own team had Klima’s resident senior scientist, Dr. Lau Jamero who is based in Bohol, continually gave us scientific and technical input.
Klima was there as a member of Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025 (ACT2025), a consortium of think tanks and experts led by the World Resources Institute. Our work in COP 28 was also supported, among others, by The Samdhana Institute.
In Dubai, the biggest issue was how to formulate the language of how to phase out fossil fuel phaseout, an imperative if we are going to address the climate change emergency,
However, the language that was agreed at the end was more conservative, stating that countries called to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems.
This language is much more suggestive than it is definitive. It is understandable that many civil society globally and in the Philippines were disappointed with this outcome.
But as the Klima Team has written in the preliminary analysis we had published, we remain hopeful. It is not the language we have been lobbying for, but it is a step towards the lessening of the burning fossil fuels. It is a step towards mitigating the effects of climate change.
The text has language on tripling renewable energy capacity and the phase-down of unabated coal power.
Moreover, on the first day, a decision operationalizing loss and damage was adopted. This has been the Klima priority for the last three years.
In Dubai, the Philippine Delegation did well.
Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, head of our delegation, was hands-on in the negotiations. She was assisted ably by Climate Change Commission Vice-Chair Roberto Borje, Environment Undersecretary Analiza Teh, Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella, Finance Undersecretary Alu Dorotan Tiuseco, and other officials.
Ambassador Leila Lora-Santos and other diplomats were also in the delegation.
Finally, we were fortunate to have lawyer Vice Yu, arguably among the best climate negotiators from developing countries, in our delegation.
For the first time in seven years, the Philippine Delegation was receptive to inputs of civil society. Among other, for the first time in almost a decade, the Delegation also had an official youth delegate in 17-year-old Javea Fernandez Estavillo, also affiliated with the Manila Observatory.
This engagement should be improved, including appointing more civil society experts and youth delegates in the official delegation.
On a personal basis, I see my own role in the climate process as a mentor and enabler.
For three decades now, I have mentored people to become more effective in their engagement.
I have done that with many in the delegation and in civil society organizations.
I worked also with youth delegates, like Javea and earlier, and with many scientists and lawyers through the years, including lawyer Yu and Undersecretary Teh.
Lately, I have taken on new mentees like Valeree Nolasco and Asami Segundo, both promising leaders in this space.
The climate change challenge requires an intergenerational and whole of society approach. That is the Klima strategy.
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