The Philippines and 19 other countries deemed most vulnerable to the ill effects of climate change are urging nations to slap taxes on goods that are harmful to the environment…Philippine Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima in a Nov. 12 letter urged developed countries to support the initiatives of the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) group of finance ministers, formed to seek new international partnerships on climate financing…They have a combined population of nearly 700 million, which Purisima claimed are “severely affected by global climate change.” “Nearly half of our people live in extreme forms of poverty, and due to climate change we now face estimated losses of at least 2.5 percent of gross domestic product each year…”…said…Purisima, who chairs the V20…“With lives at risk and the fate of nations threatened, we are firm in our belief that climate change is the fundamental human rights issue of our time…”…Purisima pushed for greater support…for climate financing.