PH elected host country of ‘loss and damage’ fund board
Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippines has been elected host country of the board of a United Nations-backed global fund that will aid vulnerable countries in dealing with the effects of climate change.
The “Loss and Damage” Fund is an outcome of talks within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
According to the UN Environment Programme, loss and damage refers to the “unavoidable and irreversible impacts” of the climate crisis despite efforts to address the causes of human-induced climate change and its impacts.
In a post on X on Tuesday, July 10, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said hosting the board “reinforces our dedication to inclusivity and our leadership role in ensuring that the voices of those most affected by climate change shape the future of international climate policies.”
Marcos has been keen for the country to host the board since the international fund’s operationalization during last year’s UN climate summit.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the country will serve as a “committed steward of the Board’s efficient operations, and ensure a supportive environment for the performance of its mandate.”
A ratification of the host country agreement or a national legislation is needed before the Philippines can become host. Marcos did not specify when such proceedings would start.
In a draft accessible through the UNFCCC’s website, the Philippines said the ratification would take 56 to 71 days, while the law’s passage would take 75 to 90 days.
The Philippines, a developing nation frequented by typhoons and is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, is among seven contenders vying to host the official business of the 26-member board.
The election happened during the board’s second meeting in South Korea on Tuesday.
Manila, represented by lawyer Mark Dennis Joven, also sits in the Asia Pacific Group of the board.
For Marcos, this ensures the country will be “a formidable voice in promoting and advancing climate action — an issue of critical interest to the country.”
