1st Phl pavilion opens at COP28

For the first time, the Philippines opens its pavilion at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28), which will run at the Dubai Expo from 30 November to 12 December.

Themed "Together Today for Tomorrow," the Philippine Pavilion opened at 4:30 p.m. (Manila time), illustrates how the country combines climate change adaptation and mitigation, resilience, and sustainable pathways firmly rooted in equity.

Led by the Office of the President and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the pavilion is a collaboration between the national and local governments, private sector, civil society, academe, and the youth, showcasing the story of how the whole nation is working together towards a climate-resilient future.

"We have a number of nature-based panels, especially at the side events. The DENR has taken a role in that. It is extremely important for the Philippines as a climate-vulnerable country to be heard by other nations because what we're trying to do at this point is to approach our climate resilience by twinning, adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction," said Loyzaga, who President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated to represent him as head of delegation.

She added: "That will involve the social, economic, environmental, and scientific efforts of the whole of government."

The Philippine Pavilion will host 32 side events throughout the 13-day conference. These events are aligned with the thematic days identified by the UAE COP28 presidency and include panel discussions and lectures by international experts, government leaders, and other dignitaries.

Led by national government agencies in partnership with development partners, these side events aim to highlight the country's collective and scalable efforts in addressing climate change. They will showcase multi-stakeholder solutions to climate change centered around three areas: protecting biodiversity, building resilient communities, and low-carbon development.

The side events at the Philippine Pavilion will kick off with a discussion on the forthcoming National Adaptation Plan and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan, led by the DENR, the Climate Change Commission, and the Asian Development Bank.