Leaders of the Philippine delegation discussed the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation plans, outlining the ambition and commitment in the forthcoming National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP). Government representatives also discussed with key partners funding, resource generation, and capability-building programs that are being made available to advance the NAP and NDCIP.
The high-level panel discussion entitled, “Turning the Tide: The Philippines’ Journey to Climate Resilience,” was hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Climate Change Commission (CCC), in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of the United Kingdom as a side event at the Philippine Pavilion of the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the largest global climate summit to date.
DENR Sec. Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga highlighted the progress made to advance key features of the NAP and NDCIP, as well as plans to drive implementation.
“The Philippines’ NAP charts a clear and strategic adaptation based on climate analytics, adaptation needs, and the critical enablers, multilateral funding sources, and private capital required for successful implementation. It also defines sectoral needs with specific recommended actions for agriculture, fisheries, and food security; water resources; energy, transport, and communications; health; ecosystems and biodiversity; cultural heritage, population displacement, and migration; land-use and human settlements; and livelihoods and industries,” she said
“While the NAP outlines specific adaptation priorities within these sectors, it emphasizes their interdependence and interconnection.”
While the NAP lays down the imperatives and priority areas, the NDCIP sets a roadmap and identifies actions for implementing mitigation actions and guides long-term economic and investment planning.
“The NDCIP enumerates the various policies and measures across five key sectors: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and waste. These initiatives set the Philippines on a low-carbon development pathway consistent with its national priorities of poverty reduction, energy security, sustainable development, and climate justice,” she added.
The high-level panel included representatives from civil society, development partners, and the private sector for a solution-oriented discussion with the goal of identifying the best approaches and linkages to implement concrete projects, programs, and activities.
The discussion centered on how the NAP and NDCIP can be strong enablers for targeted deployment of funding and support towards the country’s climate ambitions.
The panelists also shared the programs existing, underway, and ready to be deployed within their institutions to deliver said support to the country.
CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera said the NAP aims to steadily reduce climate-related loss and damage as well as build the country’s adaptive capacity towards transformative adaptation, resilience and sustainable economic development by 2050.
The national plan integrates climate adaptation into policies and incorporates strategies, including reinforcing infrastructure, addressing livelihood vulnerabilities, and leveraging nature-based solutions.
“Inclusivity must follow, where the NAP implementation must leave no one behind, fostering collaborative climate actions that will reach the last mile,” said Commissioner Herrera.
On the other hand, DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh said the Philippine NDCIP catalyzes climate mitigation across agencies including the DENR, the CCC, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Finance. It also outlines the summary of actions and the risk to delivery for sectors working toward the plan.
COP28, hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, is the annual climate change negotiations within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. – Press release
