Legarda: 26th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum Adopts PHL Resolution on Reg’l Cooperation on Climate and Disaster Resilience

Lawmakers from 27 countries at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Hanoi, Vietnam have adopted a Philippine-sponsored resolution on climate and disaster resilience, Senator Loren Legarda announced today.

Legarda, Head of the Philippine Delegation, authored the “Resolution Calling for Regional Cooperation on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (CCAM),” which was adopted as APPF26 Resolution No. 10.

“Delegates from participating APPF member countries adopted the Philippine-sponsored resolution bearing in mind the urgent need to mobilize stronger and more ambitious climate action in line with the global blueprints for disaster risk reduction, climate change, and sustainable development,” Legarda said.

Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience and UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, explained that the Resolution urges all APPF Member-States to integrate DRR and CCAM into their development agenda, plans, policies, programs and investments at the national and local levels and using a whole of society approach; to adopt their respective national adaptation plans; and to advance legislation to help ensure the fulfillment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of governments under the Paris Agreement.

The Senator added, “All our members are likewise encouraged to intensify cooperation in the aspects of finance, technology, and capacity-building, with the aim of mobilizing resources, leveraging knowledge, and sharing successful practices on disaster and climate resilience.”

The Resolution was tackled under the Third Plenary Session: Regional Cooperation in Asia-Pacific, and deliberated together with Resolutions filed by Chile and Vietnam, which both called for Strengthening Joint Action to Respond to Climate Change. Legarda nevertheless sought the adoption of the Philippine Resolution as a stand-alone document, stressing that its inclusion of DRR and emphasis on the need for national adaptation plans sent a distinct and important message that could not be subsumed under the other proposals, to which the body acceded.

Moreover, through Legarda’s intervention, the deep concern over disaster and climate change risks and the need to strengthen cooperation to address the same were expressed in the Joint Communique of the 26th Annual Meeting of the APPF, which was signed by the Heads of Delegation.

“We can never truly achieve real lasting growth within our region until we address our prevailing disaster and climate risks. Thus, we must build our resilience from within. We need to draw strength from each other. We must work together to transform our vulnerabilities into opportunities for sustainable and resilient growth for our respective nations, our region, and this only planet we call home,” Legarda concluded.

The Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) is a forum that provides opportunities for parliamentarians of the Asia-Pacific region to identify and discuss matters of common concern and interest and to highlight them in a global context. It was founded in 1993 by parliamentarians from 15 nations, including the Philippines.

The 26th Annual Meeting of the APPF from January 18-21, 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam carries the theme, “Parliamentary Partnership: Peace, Innovation, and Sustainable Development.”