Manila commits to climate action as UN adopts landmark pact

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, has pledged to actively participate in the implementation of the United Nations' Pact for the Future, a landmark agreement that aims to address pressing global challenges.

The pact, adopted by world leaders without a vote during the Summit of the Future in New York City on September 23 (Manila time), includes commitments to prioritize urgent action on environmental challenges, disaster risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration. These issues that immediately resonate with the Philippines, which has been ranked as the country with the highest disaster risk in 2022.

The Summit of the Future brought together global stakeholders, including representatives from over 1,000 individuals representing nearly 80 countries from September 22 to 23, to discuss the implementation of the Pact for the Future.

The 61-page pact, that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations, covers commitments addressing issues such as peace and security, sustainable development, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender, youth and future generations and the transformation of global governance.

It is a conclusion of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the navigate present reality and ensure a sustainable and peaceful future.

Philemon Yang (Cameroon), president of the United Nations General Assembly, said the pact “lays the foundation for a sustainable, just, and peaceful global order for all nations and peoples.”

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, meanwhile, said, “We cannot create a future fit for our grandchildren with a system built by our grandparents."

One of the actions stipulated in the pact relevant to the Philippines Philippines is the commitment to prioritize urgent action to address critical environment challenges, disaster risk reduction, ecosystem restoration and ensuring a clean sustainable environment.

The agreement included commitment to support effective disaster early warning, early action and crisis response, as well as promotion of a disaster risk-informed approach to sustainable development that