27 February 2015 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario delivered opening remarks at the Forum on Climate Change entitled, “Towards COP21: The Civil Society Mobilized for the Climate,” which was held yesterday, February 26, at the National Museum.

The Forum on Climate Change is included among the activities of visiting French President Francois Hollande who also spoke during the opening of the Forum. The Forum was held in preparation for the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which is expected to take place in December 2015, in Paris, France.

In his speech, Secretary Del Rosario noted the inter-relationship among climate change, disaster risk reduction, and poverty reduction, and underscored the Philippines’ active role in three global conferences this year:  The Third World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai; the UN Special Summit on Sustainable Development Goals in September; and finally, COP21 in December in Paris.

Secretary Del Rosario also thanked the French people and their Government for their solidarity and assistance in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda and reiterated the Philippines’ readiness to work with France in ensuring the success of COP21 in Paris in coming up with a long-awaited agreement that is universal, equitable and ambitious.

The Forum was jointly chaired by Mr. Nicolas Hulot, Special Envoy of the French President for the Protection of the Planet and a French media personality, and Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering of the Philippine Climate Change Commission (CCC).

The Forum was moderated by Mr. Marco Lambertini, Director General of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International. END