Speech of Philippines delegate on hunger strike to demand action on climate change

Summary

In this powerful address, the speaker recounts the devastating impact of Super Typhoon Haiyan on their country, emphasizing the unprecedented destruction and human suffering it caused, including personal losses within their own family. Highlighting the urgent realities of climate change, they call for immediate global action, including mobilization of resources for the Green Climate Fund, operationalization of a loss and damage mechanism, and strong adaptation measures. In a symbolic act of solidarity, the speaker announces a voluntary climate fast, demanding meaningful outcomes from the climate negotiations and urging world leaders to confront emissions and implement tangible solutions to protect vulnerable communities and the planet.

Takeaways

• 🌪️ Super Typhoon Haiyan caused unprecedented destruction, making it the strongest typhoon in modern recorded history with winds up to 3728 km/h.
• 🏚️ The aftermath of the typhoon has left colossal devastation, and the full extent of the damage remains uncertain.
• 🌍 Climate change increases the likelihood of more intense tropical storms, highlighting the urgency to address dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
• ⚠️ Failure to meet the objectives of international climate conventions could lead to severe consequences for vulnerable nations.
• 💔 Loss and damage are immediate realities worldwide, requiring an emergency climate pathway and tangible action.
• 👥 The speaker represents not only their delegation but also countless people who can no longer voice their suffering due to the storm.
• 🏠 The typhoon personally affected the speaker's family, with their brother surviving while facing dire conditions, including hunger and the challenge of gathering the deceased.
• ✊ Climate advocacy is crucial, and selfless activists expose themselves to risks to fight for systemic change and accountability.
• 🥗 The speaker announces a voluntary fast to demand concrete climate action, resource mobilization for the Green Climate Fund, and assurance of a loss and damage mechanism.
• 🌱 Real climate action must include finance for adaptation, ambition aligned with international principles, and the operationalization of mechanisms to protect vulnerable communities.
• 👏 Despite criticism of the UNFCCC process as slow or ineffective, meaningful outcomes and timely climate solutions are still possible.

Q & A

What event is the speaker addressing in the transcript?

The speaker is addressing the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan, describing its massive destruction and the urgent need for climate action.

How does the speaker describe the intensity of Super Typhoon Haiyan?

The typhoon is described as the strongest in modern recorded history, with winds reaching up to 3728 kmph, causing unprecedented devastation.

What concerns does the speaker raise regarding climate change?

The speaker emphasizes that climate change increases the potential for more intense tropical storms and questions whether the global community can prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

Why does the speaker mention 'loss and damage'?

The speaker highlights that 'loss and damage' is a current global reality due to climate change, emphasizing the need for an emergency climate pathway and concrete actions to address these impacts.

What personal experience does the speaker share about the typhoon?

The speaker shares that Super Typhoon Haiyan struck their own family's hometown, describing the staggering devastation and their anxiety for the safety of relatives.

What does the speaker reveal about their brother's situation?

The speaker's brother survived the typhoon and has been gathering bodies of the dead, facing hunger and difficulties due to limited food supply in the hardest-hit areas.

What form of protest does the speaker undertake during the event?

The speaker announces a voluntary fast for the climate, refraining from eating food until meaningful outcomes, pledges, and mobilization of resources for climate action are achieved.

Which mechanisms and funds does the speaker urge to be operationalized?

The speaker calls for the operationalization of a 'loss and damage' mechanism, assurance on finance for adaptation, and mobilization of resources for the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

How does the speaker critique the UNFCCC process?

The speaker notes that the UNFCCC process has been called a farce or a gathering of carbon-intensive frequent flyers but emphasizes that it can still be a platform to save the planet if real ambition and climate action are implemented.

What is the overall message of the speech?

The speech urges urgent global climate action, highlights the human and environmental costs of extreme weather events, and calls for tangible commitments to address loss, damage, and adaptation.

How does the audience respond to the speech?

The audience responds with applause, indicating recognition and support for the urgency and emotional depth of the speaker's message.