PARTNERS ON CLIMATE ACTION. DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga (2nd from left) and Singaporean Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien (left) discuss mutual efforts on climate action cooperation in a luncheon for Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (center) at the The Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Aug. 16, 2024. The two countries committed to deepen cooperation in exploring solutions towards climate resiliency. (Photo courtesy of DENR)
MANILA – The Philippines and Singapore have committed to strengthening partnership in the fight against climate change through sustainable measures.
This came as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga hosted a luncheon for Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at The Peninsula Manila Hotel on Aug. 16, the agency said in a news release on Tuesday.
The two sides discussed deeper collaboration and exploring innovative solutions for inclusive and climate-resilient development through water resource management, biodiversity conservation, energy transition, and reforestation.
The gathering came a day after the DENR chief and Singaporean Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien signed on Aug. 15 a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam witnessed the MOU signing in Malacañang Palace during his official visit to Manila, where he met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“It enables both countries to cooperate on climate action in order to meet emission reduction targets through the development of high-integrity carbon credits while supporting reforestation and community development,” Loyzaga said.
Article 6 of the Paris climate pact recognizes that some parties choose to pursue voluntary cooperation in implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions to allow for higher ambition in their mitigation and adaptation actions and promote sustainable development and environmental integrity.
Before the signing, representatives from the two countries, consisting of the private sector and government agencies, discussed efforts in sustainable development, leveraging technology to address shared challenges, attract international investments, and adopt best practices.
During the discussion, Loyzaga and DENR Undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science Carlos Primo David presented an overview of the DENR Geospatial Database Office’s (GDO) water resource management initiatives, showcasing its achievement in mapping the country's natural resources, including water bodies, forests, and mangrove ecosystems.
Loyzaga said both sides would work together in achieving tangible gains against the impacts of climate change for both nations and setting a benchmark for science-informed bilateral and public-private cooperation in environmental stewardship. (PNA)
