MANILA, Philippines – Philippine President Benigno Aquino III is expected to push for a binding commitment to curb climate change at the upcoming UN summit in Paris, sharing the Philippines' experience on weather-related disasters to underscore the devastating effects of global warming on vulnerable countries.
Aquino left the country on Sunday, November 29, for a two-day working visit in Paris before heading to Rome and Vatican City.
At the UN summit in Paris, which will kick off on Monday, November 30, Aquino will share the Philippine experience in weather natural disasters and recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, at the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a high-level event on the sidelines of the summit, Aquino will speak on behalf of other countries most vulnerable to stronger typhoons, severe droughts, and other natural disasters worsened by climate change.
Aquino said the new climate talks in Paris is an important opportunity to move forward and stress unity in tackling the problem of climate change after failed efforts to agree on a consensus in Denmark in 2009.
While in France, the president will also meet with known companies to drum up investor interest in the Philippines.
"Taas-noo nating ipagmamalaki ang mas maaliwalas nang pagnenegosyo sa ating bansa. Sa paghikayat natin sa kanilang mamuhunan at magpalawak ng negosyo dito sa Pilipinas, mas dumadami ang nalilikhang pagkakataon para sa ating mga kababayan," he said.
(We can be proud of better business opportunities in our country. As we encourage investors to bring their business to the Philippines, more opportunities for our citizens are created.)
After Paris, Aquino will head to Rome for meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican on December 4.
In Rome, Aquino is set to hold bilateral talks with the two leaders and meet with the Filipino community there.
At the Vatican, Aquino will meet with Pope Francis, who visited the Philippines in January this year. The government earlier said Aquino's visit will also be an opportunity for him to update the pontiff on the rehabilitation efforts in Tacloban City, ground zero of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) which devastated Central Philippines in 2013.
During his Philippine visit in January, the Pope ventured outside the capital Manila to meet with and comfort the survivors of the strongest typhoon to hit land. – Rappler.com