11 Nations have eked out what they are despondently apparently capable of. It would still be fair enough to say that after Paris we see some glimmer of hope for addressing the climate crisis, and we must continue to be watchful and confront our leaders to move more swiftly and boldly. We must hold our governments and industries to account for their inaction. Confronting the climate crisis is not just about saving the planet. It is about changing the system. The journey continues, and every step counts. Another world is possible, and we will be unstoppable. And another world is not only possible, it is imperative. The Paris Agreement has crucial benefits to the Philippines’ national interest: • The Paris Agreement aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. • The Agreement aims to hold the increase of global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change; For a country like the Philippines, this is most important because if global warming goes beyond 1.5 °C, it will mean most development or economic progress we make will be negated by climate impacts; if global warming goes beyond 2°C above pre-industrial levels (since 1890s), any development effort we make cannot keep up with the massive catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis, including significantly more destructive typhoons, rapidly rising sea levels, severe droughts and water shortages, extinction of flora and fauna species, massive destruction of coral reef ecosystems, collapse of freshwater ecosystems, and massive collapse of food production systems. Ensuring that this objective is achieved IS THE ONLY OPTION for the Philippines to survive and thrive. The threat is existential. • The Agreement aims to increase our ability to adapt to the severe adverse impacts of the climate crisis. This objective is absolutely crucial for the Philippines to continue to develop, address poverty, avoid or survive catastrophic extreme climatic events. • The Agreement aims to foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development in a manner that does not threaten food security. This objective is important for the Philippines especially that it is qualified by the provision that any low-carbon development approach for the Philippines should not threaten food security. For example, if reducing emissions in rice production will result in a food crisis, we are given the leeway to prioritize food security over reducing emissions from rice production. This should push us to look at sustainable ecological agriculture and progressive agricultureal R&D that can provide the balance between reducing emissions and ensures food security (rice production with less water needed, thereby reducing methane emissions). • The Agreement aims to make finance flows (e.g. money from developed countries going to developing countries) happen in order to allow countries like the Philippines to pursue a lower greenhouse gas emissions development