The Philippines and New Zealand have signed a joint declaration and areas of cooperation on climate change as a demonstration of their commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement and transition to a low-emissions economy.
Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga and New Zealand Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts signed in parallel the joint declaration at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources headquarters DENR in Quezon City and at the ongoing 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, respectively.
“Our government and the New Zealand’s are united by a common purpose: to build climate-resilient communities while accelerating the transition to a low-emissions economy,” the DENR chief said.
“Given the Philippines’ vulnerability to the impact of climate change, our focus really is to navigate the complexities of driving economic recovery and inclusive growth, balancing the immediate needs of our people with long-term sustainability goals,” she added.
The declaration sets an 18-month timetable to formalize the framework for enhancing the partnership on climate change, focusing on innovation, cooperation and sustainable development in pursuing job creation, investment opportunities and economic growth.
“Aligning our actions with the goals set in the Paris Agreement helped us recognize that transitioning to a low-emissions economy is not merely a policy objective but a moral imperative, which is why in this cooperation, we aim to build a model of inclusive growth that responds to both the urgency of the present and the promise of a sustainable future,” Loyzaga said in a statement.
The bilateral engagement served as a critical follow-through on the official visit of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to Manila last April when he met with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
