03 December 2015 – The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), an organization of developing countries that are most vulnerable to climate change currently headed by the Philippines, called for “an ambitious, universal, legally-binding, dynamic and durable international agreement” during its High-Level Meeting on the margins of the ongoing Climate Change Conference in Paris on November 30.

President Benigno Aquino III delivered the keynote message during the Meeting, stating that the CVF highlighted essential pillars of the solidarity that vulnerable countries had been calling for in responding to climate change: fairness and equitability.

“Fairness and equitability are not mere catchwords for the vulnerable; they form the very foundations of a truly global climate response,” he said, adding that the spirit of bayanihan was exactly the same spirit that informed the CVF.

The CVF is a forum where vulnerable countries share experience, knowledge and expertise in dealing with the adverse impacts of climate change. The High-Level Event adopted the Manila-Paris Declaration and the 2016-2018 Roadmap, which embodied the common ideals of the members in intensifying action against climate change and identified concrete actions that would further provide protection to vulnerable countries.

“Although the CVF is a non-negotiating bloc, it is an advocacy group whose members are united not only because of our respective vulnerabilities but, more importantly, our common desire to call for more meaningful and enhanced global action,” said Jesus Domingo, DFA Assistant Secretary for the Office of United Nations and International Organizations.

CVF members are united in their call for strengthening the global target to limit global warming to 1.5⁰C, which many experts view is crucial in ensuring the survival of low-lying and other vulnerable states, and agree that climate change presents a barrier to the full and effective enjoyment of human rights.

The Philippines is the President of the CVF from January 2015 to June 2016. END