H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia, delivered the keynote speech during the launch of “Battered: A Virtual Exhibit on Climate Change” at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra, on 22 April 2021.
23 April 2021 (Canberra) - H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia, announced the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement during her keynote speech at the launch of “Battered: A Virtual Exhibit on Climate Change” at the Australian National University, Canberra on 22 April 2021. The event coincided with the global celebration of Earth Day.
Ambassador De La Vega said, “Our position in climate negotiations is based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities acknowledging that developed countries have more responsibility and that developing countries need more support. Nonetheless, the Philippines is punching above its weight as demonstrated by our Nationally Determined Contributions submitted earlier this month.”
As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Australia, Ambassador De La Vega recognized that the Australian Government and the Australian people have stood in solidarity with the Philippines during times of natural disasters. She said that the two countries are advancing cooperation on science, innovation and technology which will support climate resilience.
The exhibit, initiated by non-government organization Postcards from Disasters (PFD), features a coastal community in Tacloban City that was considered the ground zero of the landfall of Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, one of the world’s most powerful tropical storms. It was launched at the Australian National University (ANU) through the leadership of PFD co-founder Makoi Popioco, who is currently a student at the ANU as an Australia Awards Scholar.
H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia, is guided through “Battered: A Virtual Exhibit on Climate Change” by Mr. Kingston Lee-Young, CEO of VRTY which transformed the 360-degree footage from Tacloban to a virtual reality experience.
H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Ambassador of the Philippines to Australia (3rd from right), is joined by (L-R) Ms. Sarah Roberts, Deputy Director of the National Security College, Ms. Rhodora Santos, CEO of Amicus Koi Solutions, Mr Kingston Lee-Young, CEO of VRTY, Professor Fiona Yap, Deputy Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy, and Mr. Makoi Popioco, co-founder of Postcards from Disasters.
