A bill aimed at promoting a low carbon economy in the Philippines has cleared two committees in the House of Representatives, a Boholano lawmaker said Thursday.
According to Congressman Atty. Edgar Chatto, who chairs the House Committee on Climate Change, the Low Carbon Emission Economy Investment Act has passed the Committee on Climate Change and the Committee on Ways and Means.
The measure is now being discussed by the Committee on Appropriations, the final committee hurdle before it is sent to the plenary for further deliberation, Chatto told local media.
The bill aims to reduce the country’s carbon emissions, despite the Philippines being a relatively low emitter compared to highly industrialized countries such as the United States and China.
The Philippines is a signatory to the Paris Agreement, which seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
As one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the Philippines has been at the forefront of global efforts to address the issue, including hosting the Loss and Damage Fund, which aims to compensate countries affected by climate-related disasters.
Chatto noted that rich countries have a responsibility to compensate vulnerable nations like the Philippines, which are disproportionately affected by climate change.