MANILA, March 14 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Senate ratified the Paris global climate agreement on Tuesday, making the Philippines an official signatory to the historic pact.
With a vote of 22-0, the Senate unanimously voted in favor of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the world's first comprehensive climate agreement that commits government to moving away from the fossil fuels.
"Wherefore, be it resolved, that the Philippine Senate concur, as it hereby concurs, in the Philippine accession to the Paris Agreement," said Senator Loren Legarda, the lawmaker that sponsored the Senate Resolution 320.
Legarda said the Senate's concurrence "will send a strong signal of our continuing commitment to work with the rest of the world in ensuring the survival of this generation and the generation to come and ability of the Earth to sustain life."
"Even as we complete the process, we are already moving forward in our efforts to combat climate change impacts," she added.
On Feb. 28, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed the climate pact. After Duterte affixed his signature, the "Instrument of Accession" was submitted to the Senate for concurrence.
The "Instrument of Accession" is a document signifying the Philippines' ratification of the climate change pact. Senate concurrence is the final step in the ratification process.
The pact is the first-ever legally-binding global agreement signed by 194 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December.
The Philippines has promised to cut carbon emissions by 70 percent by 2030, even if the country is not a major emitter.
Duterte, who took office in June last year, was reluctant to sign the Paris pact, saying the agreement is tilted in favor of the industrialized nations.
The pact was signed during the previous administration of President Benigno Aquino.
