The Philippines has expressed support to the vision of creating a Coalition of Trade Ministers plotting response to climate change.
At the sidelines of the 12th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo told a Mini Ministerial meeting focused on combating climate change that the Philippines, as a climate vulnerable country, “supports revitalizing plurilateral engagement on environmental goods and services that builds on work in other fora…
The Coalition can provide guidance on the scope and approach to future negotiations.”
But Rodolfo cautioned that “for us to meet these ambitions, developing countries must forge partnerships with the developed world on financing, technology transfer and technical assistance.”
Rodolfo joined WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and ministers from 21 delegations from other countries that included the United States, Canada, Japan, Fiji, Nigeria, Colombia, Singapore and Vietnam, in an informal exchange of views on how to strengthen the environmental sustainability agenda in the WTO.
During the meeting, ministers committed to strengthen engagement and dialogue with a view to creating a Coalition of Trade Ministers to address climate change.
Ministers had a candid exchange of views on how trade could support a clean energy transition where the Philippines noted that its high-level ambition is reflected in recent private sector investments, including the recent announcement of a 4,500 MW solar farm, the world’s largest once it is constructed.
The Philippines is pursuing a Sustainable Finance Roadmap and has just enacted a law to develop the electric vehicle industry.
The Philippines is co-leading with Australia a work stream on promoting trade to tackle plastics pollution.
“We must continue to share our experiences in dealing with the plastics crisis and contribute to the multilateral treaty on plastics,” Rodolfo said, adding the need for further cooperation on strategies that would reduce single-use plastics and support sustainable plastic packaging. – Irma Isip
