The Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FrLD) on Monday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for their efforts to raise the global fund, which aims to support climate-vulnerable countries, including the Philippines.

This came after the FrLD’s 4th Board Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center on Dec. 2-5, shortly after the 29th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) in Baku, Azerbaijan in November.

“We are inspired by his (Marcos) vision, his dedication, and his commitment to climate action,” FrLD Board inaugural Executive Director Ibrahima Cheikh Diong said in a statement.

Earlier, Marcos underscored the need to fortify a whole-of-government and a whole-of-society approach to ensure climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

“Being on the Board obviously is an opportunity for the country to voice its concerns from the perspective of the Philippines. The other countries can learn from the Philippine example, and it can learn from other countries,” Diong said.

He, likewise, lauded the DENR for its work at the recent Board meeting and for mobilizing the government.

“We are moving slowly but surely on the pledges. We can do two things at the same time: converting the pledges and mobilizing additional resources so we can meet the demands of the vulnerable countries,” he said.

To date, 26 developed and developing countries comprise the FrLD Board, which aims to manage and supervise the global fund for the welfare of climate-risk vulnerable countries.

More than USD700 million has been pledged from developed countries thus far, with a target to raise about USD1.3 trillion annually by 2035. (PNA)