'Phl can learn from Rio+20 meet on environment'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines should take pointers from the coming Rio+20 conference on sustainable environment to solve some of its biggest problems with the environment and development, said the summit’s executive coordinator.

“(The Rio conference) is a meeting of a family of nations and the Philippines is part of that family,” Brice Lalonde, executive coordinator of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development told The STAR in an interview Monday.

“Everybody has to do something. The Philippines should explain what are the problems in the country. One example is the development of a big city like Manila and the problems of having typhoons and bad weather,” Lalonde said.

At the Rio+20 Conference, slated in June, world leaders and representatives from non-government institutions will come together to discuss ways to reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection.

Lalonde commended the Philippines for taking the conference seriously by sending competent members in its delegation. However, he said Asia as a region has not acted fast enough on the problem with the environment.

Lalonde said the Rio Conference is also expected to tackle the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

“We are going to talk about the MDGs and how we feed eight billion people,” he said.

He said it is too early to discuss a backup plan in case the MDG goals are not met on schedule.

Lalonde was appointed executive coordinator for the Rio+20 Conference in January 2011. He has served as French ambassador for climate change and as environment minister.