Duterte to heed advice on climate change deal

MANILA, Philippines -- President Rodrigo Duterte will heed the advice of his officials on the Paris climate deal, which he once described as stupid and absurd.

Duterte said while he has “misgivings” on the agreement, he would approve the deal for ratification if his advisers think it would be good for the country.

“I will follow what my advisers would tell me. If (Environment secretary) Gina Lopez… would say it’s good. And if the legal adviser says that I should sign, then I will sign,” the president told reporters during his visit to his parents tombs in Davao City Tuesday night.

“The only problem is the paper is not yet with me. I cannot approve or disapprove anything that is not on my table,” he added.

Duterte said the Paris agreement has to be studied by his legal team because “there might be some progressive clauses” that can affect the country.

“I will see if I have leeway and elbow room to move because the treaty now that is being signed or passed around for signing is binding,” he said.

Duterte clarified though that he was expressing his opinion as a lawyer, not as a president because the paper has not reached him yet.

Climate change has been tied to carbon emissions caused by human activities. The phenomenon has been blamed for natural disasters and drastic weather changes.

Last April, more than 150 countries signed the historic Paris climate deal that aims to limit global warming “well below” two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

World leaders have also promised to step up measures that would limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The Philippines, one of the countries vulnerable to strong typhoons, has yet to ratify the agreement.

The Philippines under then President Benigno Aquino III vowed to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030 even if the Philippines is not a major emitter.

Duterte, however, had said he would not honor the Paris deal because it could affect the country’s development.

He also scored the developed nations for imposing emission caps on developing countries like the Philippines even if they have caused pollution since the Industrial Age.