Emotional Typhoon Haiyan Speech By Philippines Delegate

Published Nov 11, 2013

Transcript:

0:00

My country is being tested by this hellstorm called super typhoon Haiyan. We remain uncertain

0:06

as to the full extent of the damage and devastation as information trickles in in an agonizingly

0:13

slow manner because power lines and communication lines are cut off and may take a while before

0:19

they are restored. The initial assessment shows that Haiyan left a wake of massive destruction

0:25

that is unprecedented, unthinkable and horrific. And the devastation is staggering. I struggle

0:37

to find words even for the images that we see on the news coverage and I struggle to

0:43

find words to describe how I feel about the losses. Up to this hour, I agonize, waiting

0:53

for word for the fate of my very own relatives. What gives me renewed strength and great relief

1:01

is that my own brother has communicated to us and he has survived the onslaught. I speak

1:08

for my delegation, but I speak for the countless people who will no longer be able to speak

1:18

for themselves after perishing from the storm. I speak also for those who have been orphaned

1:25

by the storm. I speak for those people now racing against time to save survivors and

1:32

alleviate the suffering of the people affected. We can take drastic action now to ensure that

1:37

we prevent a future where super typhoons become a way of life. Can we ever attain the ultimate

1:43

objective of the convention - which is to prevent dangerous and tropogenic interference

1:49

with a climate system. By failing to meet the objective of the convention, we may have

1:54

ratified our own doom. We have to confront the issue of loss and damage. Loss and damage

2:02

is a reality today across the world. We cannot solve climate change when we seek to spew

2:07

more emissions. In solidarity with my countrymen who are struggling to find food back home,

2:12

and with my brother who has not had food for the last three days, with all due respect,

2:16

Mr. President - and I mean no disrespect for your kind hospitality - I will now commence

2:24

a voluntary fasting for the climate. This means I will voluntarily refrain from eating

2:30

food during this cop until a meaning outcome is in sight. Until concrete pledges have been

2:37

made to ensure mobilization of resources for the green climate fund. We cannot afford cop

2:43

with an empty GCF. Until the promise of an operalization of a loss and damage mechanism

2:49

has been fulfilled. Until there is a assurance and financial adaptation. Until we see real

2:54

ambition on climate action in accordance with the principles we have so upheld. Mr. President,

3:01

this process has been called a farce. It has been called an annual carbon intensive gathering

3:07

of useless frequent fliers. It has also been called saving tomorrow today. We can fix this.

3:14

We can stop

3:45

this madness. (Applause) Thank you Philippines for your great speech. It’s always hard

3:46

to attribute a single weather event to climate change, but we know that science is also clear

3:52

that climate change will mean more intense typhoons, potentially. Even if we cannot attribute

3:58

Haiyan to climate change directly, my country refuses to accept a future where super typhoons

4:03

will become a regular fixture.