Geneva. 4 March 2016. UN Secretary General Special Envoy on Climate Change, H.E. Mary Robinson called on Ambassador Cecilia B. Rebong, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva at the Philippine Mission office in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mrs. Robinson, a former Prime Minister of Ireland and High Commissioner of Human Rights, acknowledged the leading role of the Philippines on the issue of climate change and human rights, specifically at the UN Human Rights Council and in the negotiation for the inclusion of the human rights language in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

Mrs. Robinson requested the Philippines continue its role as a lead advocate for human rights in the climate change discourse.

Ambassador Rebong assured the Special Envoy of the unwavering commitment of the Philippines to human rights and climate change and that the Philippine Mission in Geneva would continue to lead in ensuring the adoption of an annual resolution of climate change and human rights at the UN Human Rights Council. 

She also pointed that pursuant to the program of work of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, of which the Philippines is the current Chair, the Philippines would also bring the climate change and human rights discourse to other UN specialized agencies such as the WHO and ILO.  END