Philippines to Ratify Paris Agreement

Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday he will allow the country's ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, after initially opposing the idea.

Duterte said he changed his mind after consulting his Cabinet, who were mostly in favor of the ratification, Philippines-based news outlet ABS-CBN reported.

"It's a Cabinet decision. I will go along with it; I will sign it," he said at a Palace press conference.

But he said that if the country ratifies the agreement, there should be an assurance of the clauses being enforced by all countries. In Paris last December, nearly 200 countries—including the Philippines under then president Benigno Aquino III—agreed on a binding global compact to slash greenhouse gases and keep global temperature increases to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius.

Manila promised to cut carbon emissions by 70% by year 2030, even if the country is not a major emitter.

Wealthy countries were also asked to set aside at least $100 billion yearly as financial assistance to developing countries to enable all countries to actualize renewable energy sources starting 2020. Duterte had expressed disdain for the pact, saying cutting carbon emissions at a point when the Philippines' economic rise is just starting will be unfair since industrialized countries have been giving off such emissions for decades.

The agreement came into force last Friday.