MANILA, Philippines – Environmental groups in the climate summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, called for climate justice in the form of financing, in light of the six storms that hit the Philippines in just four weeks.
Storms and typhoons this time of the year are not unusual for the Philippines. On average, the country experiences 20 tropical cyclones every year.
It becomes uncommon, however, when six consecutive storms with “equally catastrophic impacts” happen within a short period of time, said Joel Chester Pagulayan of Oxfam Pilipinas.
“This is not right,” Pagulayan said in a press conference of Philippine green organizations in Baku on Monday, November 18.
Groups counted from Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which caused massive flooding in the Bicol Region, up to Super Typhoon Pepito, which battered Catanduanes and Aurora in eastern Luzon. In between Kristine and Pepito were four other tropical cyclones — Leon, Marce, Nika, Ofel — which hit the Philippines in a matter of over four weeks or from October to November
“Since the 1950s, it has not happened that four typhoons hit the Philippines at the same time,” said Avril de Torres, deputy executive director of Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development.
“It’s very unfortunate and it’s very difficult to hear that while we are in these negotiations pushing for the most ambitious time in action and climate justice, in our own shores, we have just opened the floodgates for gas expansion,” De Torres said.
Government recorded at least 150 dead due to Kristine and Leon. More than a million were affected due to the combined effects of tropical cyclones Nika, Ofel, and Pepito.
“Given what the Philippines has endured this year alone, it is undeniable that the ‘new normal’ brought on by the climate crisis is here and now,” coalition Aksyon Klima said in an advisory on Monday. “Yet this is simply unacceptable.”
Someone has to pay
As people from the Philippines suffer the severe impacts of a warming world, climate negotiators all over the world are discussing how much to give developing countries who bear the brunt of the climate crisis.
And leaders only have a few days before the summit is over.
“Someone clearly has to pay,” said Pagulayan. “Rich countries owe the world, specifically the Global South, at least $5 trillion a year in climate debt and reparations.” (READ: COP climate talks not fit for purpose and need reform, say climate leaders)
According to reports, UN Secretary General António Guterres recently urged G20 countries to show leadership for a successful COP29.
Regardless of what happens, the Philippine delegation took an early win during COP29 after the signing of the host country agreement with the Loss and Damage Fund Board. The agreement readies the board for operation in the Philippines.
The loss and damage fund will be tapped for communities recovering from the impacts of climate change.
The Philippines can be the test case for this, Loyzaga said last week when she delivered a message on behalf of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Baku.
“Our President wishes to inform the parties of the deep devastation we are suffering from the unrelenting impacts of [these tropical cyclones], and wishes for this unprecedented experience to serve perhaps as a baseline,” said Loyzaga.
Two days after this, Ofel made landfall in Cagayan.
Beyond the Loss and Damage Fund, countries are eyeing the amount that parties at the conference will agree on regarding the new climate finance goal.
From an initial $100 billion target in 2009, countries are now looking at trillions worth in financing.
– Rappler.com