Philippines
Statement delivered on 26 March 2015 before the Inter-governmental Negotiations on the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals
by Rosemarie G. Edillon, on behalf of the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection in the Philippines
Thank you, co-facilitator.
The Philippines would like to add its voice to the discussion on the goals and targets related to the environment.
First off, we need to recognize that pollution is the leading cause of death in the developing world, killing at least 8 million people a year. It has severe implications for sustainable development, exacerbates the poverty cycle, harms the environment and biodiversity, causes lifelong disability and stagnates economic growth.
Hence, the Philippines supports:
1. Integrating the sound management of chemicals, wastes and pollution as a contributor to sustainable development in the Declaration as part of the post-2015 Development Agenda;
2. Maintaining the existing text in the draft SDGs related to toxic pollution, to wit:
Goal 3, Target 3.9: “by 2030 substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution, and contamination”
Goal 6, Target 6.3: “by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse by x% globally” (of course, there is that pesky x, which I personally would like to be well-defined)
Goal 12, Target 12.4: “by 2020, achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle in accordance with agreed international frameworks and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health.”
Goal 14, Target 14.1: “by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.”
Finally, we would like to reiterate the need to ensure that measurable and technically rigorous indicators for all types of pollution, chemicals and wastes be included in the SDG monitoring framework. In particular, for target 3.9, we think that the proposed indicator is not faithful to the outcome that it is supposed to monitor. In its stead, we would like to suggest
“Death and disability from indoor and outdoor air pollution, polluted water and sanitation, and contaminated sites versus 2012 baseline measured by WHO/IHME Global Burden of Disease methodology.”
This indicator is appropriate as it measures death and disability directly, using a metric ontology well developed in public health circles by WHO, IHME and others. It applies directly to the target. More
importantly, the GBD process is one that continues to be refined and improved, and therefore this indicator will adapt as knowledge on pollution and health develops.
Thank you, co-facilitator.
by Rosemarie G. Edillon, on behalf of the Presidential Adviser for Environmental Protection in the Philippines
Thank you, co-facilitator.
The Philippines would like to add its voice to the discussion on the goals and targets related to the environment.
First off, we need to recognize that pollution is the leading cause of death in the developing world, killing at least 8 million people a year. It has severe implications for sustainable development, exacerbates the poverty cycle, harms the environment and biodiversity, causes lifelong disability and stagnates economic growth.
Hence, the Philippines supports:
1. Integrating the sound management of chemicals, wastes and pollution as a contributor to sustainable development in the Declaration as part of the post-2015 Development Agenda;
2. Maintaining the existing text in the draft SDGs related to toxic pollution, to wit:
Goal 3, Target 3.9: “by 2030 substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution, and contamination”
Goal 6, Target 6.3: “by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse by x% globally” (of course, there is that pesky x, which I personally would like to be well-defined)
Goal 12, Target 12.4: “by 2020, achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle in accordance with agreed international frameworks and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health.”
Goal 14, Target 14.1: “by 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.”
Finally, we would like to reiterate the need to ensure that measurable and technically rigorous indicators for all types of pollution, chemicals and wastes be included in the SDG monitoring framework. In particular, for target 3.9, we think that the proposed indicator is not faithful to the outcome that it is supposed to monitor. In its stead, we would like to suggest
“Death and disability from indoor and outdoor air pollution, polluted water and sanitation, and contaminated sites versus 2012 baseline measured by WHO/IHME Global Burden of Disease methodology.”
This indicator is appropriate as it measures death and disability directly, using a metric ontology well developed in public health circles by WHO, IHME and others. It applies directly to the target. More
importantly, the GBD process is one that continues to be refined and improved, and therefore this indicator will adapt as knowledge on pollution and health develops.
Thank you, co-facilitator.
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