7 • The Agreement is based on the best available scientific knowledge. Instead of being based on political power, the effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change is based on scientific evidence. This is favorable to a country like the Philippines because science show that the best chance of solving climate change is for developed nations to take primary responsibility in reducing emissions and providing financial and technological support for developing countries. • The Agreement recognizes the specific needs and special circumstances of developing country Parties like the Philippines, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. This means the Agreement takes into account the needs of our country (poverty eradication, food security, industrialization, sustainable development, jobs, education, health, peace and order, etc) • The Agreement emphasizes the intrinsic relationship between climate change actions, responses and impacts with equitable access to sustainable development and eradication of poverty. For example, it is not oblivious to the trade-offs between measures to reduce emissions and access to economic growth and environmental integrity. It also allows countries like the Philippines to focus on eradication of poverty, so that developed countries are directed to support the Philippines in any case that climate change responses (e.g. renewable energy, mass transport infrastructure) causes increases in electricity rates, the Philippines has the right to request for support from the international community to absorb the burden of increased electricity rates. • The Agreement recognizes that for countries like the Philippines, among the fundamental priorities is safeguarding food security and ending hunger. This means that if climate change measures and its impacts impinge on food security and our aspiration to end hunger in every household (e.g. rice production, food distribution), countries like the Philippines will be given the space and leeway to strongly prioritize this. • The Agreement recognizes the particular vulnerability of food production systems to the adverse impacts of climate change. For countries like the Philippines, the Agreement gives us preferential treatment in ensuring our food production systems are protected from the ravages of climate disruption. • The Agreement takes into account the importance of just transition, in particular the transition to be accorded to labor in the process of transforming the economy from a dirty economy to a green economy. For example, as we shift from anachronistic energy sources like coal and oil to renewables like wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, we are given the latitude to shift the workforce so that they are not negatively affected by the transition. • The Agreement treats the creation of decent work and quality jobs as imperative to solving climate change, and specifically states that any impact on the labor sector should be in accordance with development priorities that is defined by the Philippines, not by any other country.