All protocols observed.

Mr. President, the Philippines thanks your excellent leadership and, with your team, for the tireless, extensive, and inclusive consultations that were held to bring us to where we are today – the UAE consensus. Thank you, UAE, and the beautiful city of Dubai, for being such an exceptional and generous host throughout COP.

The Philippines commends the key milestones achieved here at COP28 on the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund and the Santiago Network. The Philippines, as a high-risk and climate-vulnerable country, is pleased to have secured a seat in the inaugural Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund Board, representing the Asia Pacific Group (APG) along with UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, in a term-sharing agreement. This Board membership provides us another platform to shape climate solutions that are country-driven and anchored on equity and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities of countries.

As already announced by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the Philippines is also offering to host the L&D Fund Board, demonstrating the country’s abiding commitment to multilateralism, strengthened international cooperation, and global solidarity.

Mr. President, we strongly support your Chairmanship’s initiative on Youth Climate Champion. We recognize the utmost importance of our young people – with their diverse backgrounds and circumstances – and the key roles they play in developing, prioritizing and adopting ecological initiatives.

On the decisions we adopted, the Philippines notes, with concern:

• That the Global Stocktake did not result in a stronger outcome on matters

relating to equity and CBDR+RC. We heard clearly many calls during the GST about what should be the North Star of this process. But given where the Philippines sits close to the equator, we can barely see the North Star in the heavens. It is very low on the northern horizon and far from us. For our fellow developing countries south of the equator, they will not even be able to see the North Star in their skies - their most prominent constellation is the Southern Cross. If we were to use a heavenly metaphor that unites us all, we should be looking towards the constellation Orion - the Hunter, which can be seen all over the world both north and south of the equator. This is what we need - collectively we need to be hunters together searching for climate justice based on equity and science as we strive to achieve sustainable development and eradicate poverty. Let us all be Orions.

• That the GGA lacks explicit reference to CBDR+RC and the mobility and displacement issues, while further noting that the decision text nevertheless refers to national circumstances;
• We called for a standing agenda item on loss and damage for SBs, the CMA and COP. This was not included but we note and receive well the Presidency’s assurance this will be taken up as part of the existing agenda items on the WIM;
• On para 28, we reiterate that nothing in this decision diminishes the existing obligations of developed countries under the Convention and its Paris Agreement and does not impose conditionalities upon developing countries to access MOIs;
• On mitigation, the findings of the IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report has not served as a wake-up call for our current climate actions to be more ambitious to keep 1.5 alive for us to thrive and survive; and,
• With only about a year left, that progress on setting the NCQG remains at the level of procedure, and has yet to progress to substance.

On the other side of the coin, we are very pleased to see:

• On the GST and the GGA, the nexus of biodiversity and climate action.
• The firm commitment to use best available science, but underscoring that safeguards are in place for the conservation and protection of the environment, ensuring integrity of ecosystems and the continuous flow of ecosystem services and benefits, while supporting biodiversity, promoting the blue and green economy, and achieving the SDGs.
• The adoption of the Just Transition Work Programme, but we emphasize the provision of MOI for developing countries, if just transition is to enable enhanced ambition; involve social protection and safety nets to protect vulnerable groups during the transition; and ensure that transition is equitable and inclusive, while minimizing the negative impacts on workers, communities, and vulnerable groups.