The UNFCCC conference in 2012 was held in the same year that habagat rains brought widespread flooding to Manila and parts of Luzon. It was also the year that Typhoon Pablo devastated southern Mindanao.
During the 2012 conference, delegates agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol, a binding agreement requiring developed nations to reduce their greenhouse emissions. The protocol was supposed to expire in 2012. But a commitment was made to craft a new protocol agreement by 2015 for implementation by 2020.
"We are left with only two years to create a new, fair, ambitious and binding agreement. And it cannot just be any agreement. For my family now, and my future tomorrow, all parties need to reaffirm common principles of humanity, to defend my rights, my generation’s rights, and future generations’ rights," Labaria said.
She reminded delegates from developed nations that cutting greenhouse emissions is more than just a matter of money. "It is a matter of survival. Perhaps more importantly, it is a matter of dignity. Countries,like mine bear the brunt of the burden even though we did not cause the problem," she said.
"For the next two weeks, we will hold you accountable. For the rest of our lives, we will hold you accountable. It is we and it is they, the future generation, who,will live tomorrow with the consequences of your decisions today," she said.
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