The Philippines marked a milestone as it launched its inaugural national pavilion during the 2023 United Nations 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
With the theme “Together Today for Tomorrow,” the Philippine Pavilion showcased the country’s scalable and concerted efforts in confronting the challenges and impacts of climate change.
“It was designed to convey our country’s contributions to local, national, and global climate challenges and is underpinned by three pillars that are embodied in our Philippine Development Plan of 2023 to 2028.”
“The pavilion manifests the Philippines’ commitment to climate action and to resilience. It was designed to convey our country’s contributions to local, national, and global climate challenges and is underpinned by three pillars that are embodied in our Philippine Development Plan of 2023 to 2028,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Head of the Philippine Delegation to COP28.
Loyzaga led the opening of the Philippine Pavilion, together with Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Department of Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Department of Migrant Workers OIC Hans Leo Cacdac, Climate Change Commission Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., Philippine Ambassador to the UAE Ferdinand Ver, and Deputy Representative of the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Leila Lora Santos.
They were joined by local chief executives and legislators including Congressman Mark Cojuangco, Congressman Jude Acidre, Governor Dakila Carlo Cua and officials from other national government agencies such as the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). UN Special Representative of the Secretary General for Disaster Risk Reduction and Head of the UNDRR Mami Mizutori, Ambassador of the UAE to the Philippines Mohamed Obaid Salem Alqataam Alzaabi, and ADB Managing Director Woochong Um also graced the occasion.
Other partners from the private sector, civil society and academe who supported the launch include ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Executive Director Dr. Mundita Lim, National Youth Commissioner Laurence Anthony Diestro, Edwina Garchitorena and Jose Andres Canivel of Forest Foundation Philippines, and UNESCO Artist for PEACE Cecile Guidote-Alvarez, Ayala Corporation Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer Jaime Zobel Urquijo. Leaders from non-government and people’s organizations, as well as the youth sector attended the launch, underscoring the whole-of-society approach and the importance of inclusive, sustainable and equitable solutions to addressing the impacts of climate change.
Led by the Office of the President and the DENR, and in collaboration with all sectors and levels, various representatives of Philippine organizations will also take part in the side events that will be held at the pavilion for the duration of COP28. The Philippines is hosting 32 Side Events, including panel discussions and lectures by international experts, government, community, and youth leaders, and other dignitaries.
“The Philippine Pavilion illustrates how the country combines climate change adaptation and mitigation with resilience and sustainable pathways rooted in equity. What you see is a showcase of the whole-of-country and whole-of-society approach that the Philippines takes in addressing climate change,” added Philippine Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Alfonso Ferdinand Ver.
The Pavilion’s design represents the narrative of the country’s commitment to sustainability and resilience following the theme of “Ridge to Reef.”
“The Philippine Pavilion illustrates how the country combines climate change adaptation and mitigation with resilience and sustainable pathways rooted in equity.”
It is inspired by man-made structures coming together with our rich natural resources and represented by traditional textile patterns in shades of blue and green.
To complement the design, digital tablets are spread across the Pavilion space where guests can scan QR codes to dive deeper into the videos and visual materials that best encapsulate the country’s scalable climate solutions.
The Pavilion will embody the Philippine’s position for COP 28 to champion solutions centered around (1) building resilient communities, (2) protecting biodiversity, and (3) pursuing low-carbon economic development.
COP28, hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, is the annual climate change negotiations within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
