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Philippines COP19 delegate slams 'climate madness' after typhoon

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 12.11.2013 09:00
A Philippines' delegate at the UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw has said the world's “climate madness” must stop as his country struggles with the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.

Philippines'
Philippines' delegate Naderev 'Yeb' Sano at the 19th UN Climate Change Conference at the National Stadium in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Naderev 'Yeb' Sano insisted that the disaster was directly linked to climate change, and pledged on Monday that he was going on a voluntary fast for the duration of the eleven-day conference.

“In solidarity with my countrymen who are struggling to find food back home, I will now commence a voluntary fasting for the climate, this means I will voluntarily refrain from eating food during this conference, until a meaningful outcome is in sight,” he said.

“What my country is going through as a result of this extreme climate event is madness, the climate crisis is madness. We can stop this madness right here in Warsaw,” he insisted.

Three minutes silence were observed at the conference, and the official number of victims of Typhoon Haijan as confirmed by the Philippines' government has risen above 1740, and it is expected to climb further.

The World Risk Report 2012 ranked the Philippines as the third-most vulnerable state in the world to the effects of global warming.

The sea level in the eastern Philippines is currently rising at one of the quickest rates across the globe.

Severe storms have hit the collection of islands for six consecutive years, with flooding in coastal areas exacerbated by rising sea levels.

“To anyone who continues to deny the reality that is climate change, I dare them to get off their ivory towers and away from the comfort of their armchairs. I dare them to go to the islands of the Pacific, the islands of the Caribbean and the islands of the Indian ocean and see the impacts of rising sea levels.”

The 19th UN Climate Change Conference (COP19) runs in Warsaw until 22 November. (nh)

Source: PAP

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