Efforts to protect the environment should be more resolute, President Rodrigo Duterte said as he called on sanctions from the United Nations (UN) against violators of the international climate treaty known as the Paris Agreement.

Penalties should be imposed against countries that ratified the pact but have failed to live up to their commitments under the framework.

In a speech in an inauguration of two major power projects in Maasim, Sarangani, the President said the UN “should better understand that it has to have a sanction for violators.”

“Without a sanction, I do not think that it will succeed. It will only fail and worsen the situation for the coming generation,” he noted.

The UN lately has been organizing conferences for multilateral discussion on climate change, which it promotes, to incentives to those who veer away from the use of fossil fuel through carbon footprint credits.

Mr. Duterte lamented that some industrialized countries that ratified the climate change deal have failed to commit to adopt the agreement.

Early this month, the President called on Southeast Asian leaders not to sacrifice the environment in pursuit of progress.

He urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) “to ensure environmental sustainability and protect biodiversity in the region’s pursuit for development.”

“ASEAN should not sacrifice the environment and the region’s rich biodiversity, particularly in the maritime domain, in its quest for progress,” he added.

The President also called on the ASEAN for cooperation to combat marine debris.

His advocacy during the regional meeting won him plaudits as a leading voice in protecting the ecology.

Duterte’s call to the UN came as he noticed that there seemed to be little progress in global efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change.

He said it would be a “waste of money” to attend a UN climate change conference because it was just “all talk.”

“I am for (combatting) climate change. I really do. I can understand. I have a little learning of everything. Not much, but I can understand. Now the problem is the Climate Change Commission is always calling for a meeting,” the President said.

“And always, it’s always how much carbon footprint you’ll leave on planet Earth. And it’s all talk, it’s all conferences. And I would not really also agree to something of a ratio and proportion vis-à-vis with (the level of) your economy.”

The UN climate change forum that is conducted every year and serves as the formal meeting of countries that are mandated to live up to the goals of the Paris climate agreement, a global pact meant to keep temperatures from rising two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

In March 2017, the Philippines ratified the Paris climate pact.

“But the one thing that is not present and therefore becomes a very inutile commission is it does not have sanctions. You can commit so many things there, excess of carbon monoxide and all, and yet there is no sanction,” he said.

“You and I know that if you cannot arrest climate change now, sigurado ‘yan (it’s sure), our children will suffer more severe climate changes, typhoons and all,” he said.

Multilateral organizations consider the Philippines, as an archipelago, to be among the most vulnerable countries in the world as a result of climate change.

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said he will ask the President to certify as urgent the bill creating the Department of Disaster Resiliency (DDR) to improve the government’s response and preparedness in times of calamities and in addressing the effects of climate change.

“We will not wait for another earthquake to happen. We have to be proactive in dealing with disasters to mitigate (their) effects on lives and properties,” Go said. “Since we are through with the first hearing (at the Senate), I will request the President to certify it as urgent so that it could be included in the 2020 budget.”

The legislator underscored the urgency of creating the DDR, saying the country is being battered by various calamities that threaten the lives and limbs of Filipinos.

Go said all line agencies of the government tasked to protect the people from the effects of disasters must be well-equipped and trained to effectively and efficiently handle any disaster response.

“And this could only be done by creating the Department of Disaster Resiliency,” he said.

Go was in Davao del Sur to join Gov. Douglas Cagas, Digos Mayor Josef Cagas, Bansalan Mayor Quirina Sarte, Magsaysay Vice Mayor Joy Mejia, and representatives of national government agencies to extend aid to more than 600 displaced earthquake victims.

The President also said in the same event in Sarangani that it is not enough to just build infrastructure.

“I told them that I do not need that ‘Build, Build, Build,’” Duterte told his audience.

“I want ‘Build-Use, Build-Use, Build-Use,’” he added.

Duterte has directed all concerned state agencies to speed up the completion of infrastructure projects, Go said on Monday.

The President’s order came after several government offices, including the Department of Transportation, earned criticisms for their supposed failure to spend their 2019 budget for their major projects.

Go said the President wanted not only “Build, Build, Build,” but also “Use, Use, Use” of the infrastructure projects being pushed under his watch.

Earlier, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon claimed the current administration’s infrastructure program was a “dismal” failure because only nine out of the initial 75 priority projects was started in Duterte’s three years in office.

The President, however, disputed Drilon’s claim, saying the senator is “out of tune.”

It’s always how much carbon footprint you’ll leave on planet Earth. And it’s all talk, it’s all conferences.

The number of key infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program went up to 100 from the original 75, after Duterte earlier ordered his economic team to revisit the roster of proposed big infrastructure.