Pablo’s devastation moves PHL official to tears at Doha climate talks

December 9, 2012 6:00pm

He just couldn’t take the “inaction” in the face of devastation.

Climate Change Commissioner Naderev Saño, the Philippines’ chief negotiator at the United Nations climate change conference in Doha, said the devastation caused by Typhoon Pablo moved him to tears when he made his plea during the annual meet last week.

“Naghalu-halo na ‘yung emotions, lalo na dahil nga doon sa bagyo na nangyari sa atin na malinaw na epekto ng climate change. Ito ay kagagawan naman talaga ng rich countries na walang commitment at patuloy na umiiwas sa kanilang legal obligations. Nakaka-frustrate lang talaga,” Saño said in a phone interview.

He added that he never wanted to appear emotional in a “professional” setting, but the hundreds of deaths caused by the typhoon really affected him.

“Hindi ko na talaga napigilan. Naipon na rin siguro ‘yung lahat ng frustrations at pangamba sa loob ko,” he said.

Last Friday, an emotional Saño addressed his fellow delegates and urged other countries to take immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

“I appeal to all, please, no more delays, no more excuses. Please, let Doha be remembered as the place where we found the political will to turn things around. Please, let 2012 be remembered as the year the world found the courage to find the will to take responsibility for the future we want,” the Filipino official said during the conference.

“I ask of all of us here, if not us, then who? If not now, then when? If not here, then where?” he said to end his speech.

‘Battlecry’

Saño said he was running out of words to say towards the end of his speech, so he decided to use a “popular battlecry” from the late student-activist Abraham Sarmiento Jr.

During the Martial Law years, Sarmiento wrote: "Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung di tayo kikibo, sino ang kikibo? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa?"

“Palagi ko iyang naririnig noong sumasali ako sa mga rally sa [University of the Philippines] dati. Naisip ko iyon ang tamang mensahe para i-mobilize ang ating mga kasamahan doon,” Saño said.

He added that he was “overwhelmed” by the response to his appeal for action during the Doha climate change talks.

“Doon sa plenary, marami ang naluha at umiyak na talaga. Pinaka-nakakaoverwhelm ‘yung naging reaksiyon ng youth organizations at civil society groups sa plenary. Nag-standing ovation sila,” the Filipino official said.

Saño likewise said that he feels that his plea somehow changed the course of the climate change talks.

“Kamuntik nang mag-collapse 'yung talks. In fact, we were ready to go home na walang nangyari, pero nagkaisa ‘yung developing countries. Tayo pa nga ang naging pinuno doon para itulak na hindi tayo puwedeng umalis na hindi umaaksyon,” he said.

In the end, the delegates to the Doha climate change talks decided to extend the Kyoto Protocol, the UN’s plan to fight global warming until 2020.

‘Politically balanced outcome’

Saño said the Philippine delegation believes that the Doha conference was able to come up with a “politically balanced outcome,” which is still not yet enough to address climate change.

"’Yung new targets for developed countries are very low in ambition. These will definitely not be enough para masolusyonan ang mga problema,” he said.

The Philippine official also welcomed the adoption of the concept of “loss and damage” during the conference, which can make richer nations financially responsible to other nations for their carbon emissions.

He, however, said that this financing still needs to be fleshed out during future climate change meetings.

“Right now, it seems like we have a shell without anything in it. There is no clear indication that there will be money to finance developing countries,” he said. — BM, GMA News