As we approach the middle of 2022, the world inches closer to the agreed upon deadline for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the international treaty pledging the cooperation of 196 countries towards tackling the threat of artificially-induced global warming.

With a goal to achieve a climate-neutral world by mid-century and limit global warming to 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius, the agreement is a massive undertaking that would mark one of the biggest collaborative efforts in history, a common cause that brings all the world’s nations together.

For its part, the Philippines has pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions to a 75% reduction by 2030 in the agriculture, waste, industry, transport, and energy sectors. Broken down, 72.29% is conditional on the support of climate finance, technologies and capacity development provided by developed countries, as prescribed by the Paris Agreement, while the remaining 2.71% of the target would be implemented mainly through domestic resources.

As one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, the Philippines should spare no effort in transitioning the country towards an adaptable, carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable society.

In pursuit of this, the government had implemented a number of programs like the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change that lays the foundation for national and local government policies toward a climate-resilient Philippines with “healthy, safe, prosperous and self-reliant communities, and thriving and productive ecosystems”. Of which, adaptation is the anchor strategy, using the Philippine Agenda 21 for Sustainable Development, and with mitigation actions pursued as a function of adaptation.

There is also the National Climate Change Action Plan, which focuses on public financing that prioritizes adaptation for vulnerable and marginalized communities, and policymaking that encourages the private sector to optimize mitigation opportunities toward sustainable development. The seven key outcomes of the plan are food security; water sufficiency; ecological and environmental sustainability; human security; climate-friendly industries and services; sustainable energy; and knowledge and capacity development.

Furthermore, eleven chapters in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 involve climate-related policies and measures. These promote climate-resilient infrastructure, energy-efficient technologies, forest rehabilitation, and improved health services for disaster and climate-related illnesses.

Most recently, the government further enhanced its efforts this year to build climate resilience among communities nationwide and address climate change to better protect the environment, lives and property.

“We have drawn up a Sustainable Finance Roadmap to help orchestrate public and private sector efforts to green our economy,” Department of Finance Secretary and Climate Change Commission (CCC) chairperson-designate Carlos Dominguez III said in his 2021 message for the country’s annual Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week observance.

The government identified the Philippines’ top climate-induced risks as rising sea level, coastal erosion, flooding, increasing frequency and severity of tropical cyclones, extreme drought, temperature increase and rising urban heat index, extreme rainfall, climate-influenced diseases, wind patterns and biodiversity loss.

Calling for stronger international collaboration, Mr. Dominguez raised the urgency for action, noting climate change “is a battle we cannot afford to lose.”

“We expect that developed nations, which historically caused the global climate crisis, will deliver their commitments to Paris Agreement with the right speed and scale to keep global average temperature from breaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius survival threshold,” he said.

Moreover, he added that he considers the present time until 2030 “critical”, noting this period is an opportunity to undertake low-carbon and resilient development as well as other climate action that will ensure Earth’s well-being “before it’s too late.”

The Philippines is “very reliant” on international financial support for capacity-building and technology transfers which climate projects need, he admitted.

“We hope this COP26 will result in positive action and will start the flow of funds to help countries,” he said at the conference.

In the conference, the CCC revealed that various local projects worth an estimated P310 million have already been supported through the government’s People’s Survival Fund, a fund created in 2012 to help local government units and accredited community organizations implement climate change adaptation projects in the country.

Furthermore, to help promote public and private investment in green undertakings nationwide, the government developed the Philippine Sustainable Finance Roadmap anchored on three strategic pillars: policy (creating a conducive environment), financing (mainstreaming sustainable finance) and investment (developing a sustainable pipeline).

The government also reconstituted the CCC’s National Panel of Technical Experts to include Filipino experts who can help promote doable climate action on the ground.

“We are no longer in the business of building a grand theory about climate change. Science has accumulated enough evidence about what is happening and what all of humanity needs to do to reverse the apocalyptic course of planetary warming. We are now in the business of implementing concrete projects and programs to build the resilience of our communities, reverse degradation and protect our vital food sources,” Mr. Dominguez said.

“What is global must now be addressed at the local level. What was theoretical now demands practical applications on the ground. No red light can stop us from moving towards a greener future. We have brought together brilliant minds to ensure that our race towards our planet’s survival will be coherent, concerted and compelling,” he added. — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

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