CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje, Ayala Corp. Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer Jaime Urquijo, CCC Deputy Executive Director Romell Antonio O. Cuenca, Globe Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Maria Yolanda C. Crisanto, Ayala Corp. Corporate Governance Group Head and Chief Legal Officer Maria Franchette M. Acosta, ACEN Corp. Chief Finance Officer and Chief Strategy Officer Jonathan Back, BPI Senior Vice President, Chief Finance Officer, Chief Sustainability Officer, and Head of Strategy and Finance Eric Roberto M. Luchangco, and Ayala Foundation President and CEO Tony Lambino sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to scale up climate action in the Philippines. Manila, 16 April 2024 - Recognizing the vital role of the private sector in attaining the country’s climate adaptation and mitigation plans, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Ayala Group formally forged a partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The partnership paves the way for the CCC and Ayala, together with Ayala Land, BPI, Globe, ACEN and Ayala Foundation, to explore possible avenues of collaboration in promoting and achieving the country’s goals under the Philippine climate agenda. This includes establishing prospect programs that allow investment-led, accelerated, just, and equitable transitions towards low-carbon emissions and the increase of vulnerable communities’ climate resilience and adaptive capacity. “To have the private sector’s commitment to our climate goals is important. Climate change is a complex issue that requires a whole-of-a-government and a whole-of-the-society approach, and this includes the private sector. This partnership with Ayala marks the start of an era of climate resiliency where businesses and corporations thrive in a sustainable and green business landscape, ” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. To support the Government, Ayala continues to ramp up its renewable energy investments, with ACEN expanding its presence globally and increasing its renewable capacity. The group also scales up its climate action along the lines of energy efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, and sustainability-related financing products. “Climate change can cause great anxiety or fear, but for us at Ayala, we see these tremendous challenges as a unique opportunity to work together with like-minded partners to help build a resilient and secure future,” said Jaime Urquijo, Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer of Ayala Corporation. “We hope that this MOU signing will bring forth collaborative projects that will enhance our capacity to adapt to climate change; expand our understanding of the risks and opportunities that climate change has brought and be a platform to show the best Filipino ingenuity and resilience in the face of a tremendous global challenge,” he added. Under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., the CCC has set priorities to enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation commitments and action between and among stakeholders in the country. This was formalized and institutionalized as contact groups, one of which is Communicating Opportunities to Network, Navigate, and Explore Climate Transformation or CONNECT for the private sector. “President Marcos underscored the great need of involving and tapping the private sector in order to make sure our development plans and aspirations turn into reality. Our partnership with Ayala offers an exemplary rubric for the CCC in partnering with the private sector towards our common goal of creating a sustainable and resilient Philippines,” said Borje. The CCC, as the government's lead policy-making body on climate change, is tasked to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate programs and ensure integration into national, local, and sectoral development plans. The Commission remains steadfast in actively seeking and building effective and robust partnerships with the private sector as part of its commitment to increase the country’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate and to usher in an era of sustainable, low-carbon business economy in the Philippines. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.
MANILA, 8 April 2024 — In an effort to bolster sustainable leadership in climate and disaster risk reduction, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) has announced the opening of nominations for the Sustainable Leadership Learning for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction (SLL-CDRR) program in 2024. The SLL-CDRR is a collaboration between the CCC, Office of Senator Loren Legarda, and Asian Institute of Management (AIM). The scholarship program aims to enable selected candidates to enroll in the Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) program. This initiative aims to equip leaders with the skills and knowledge to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change and natural disasters, and be able to use them for the betterment of their communities (ie) better adaptation and risk management plans. Scholarship awardees will be expected to pursue specialization in CCAM and DRRM and produce scholastic outputs aligned with CCC's policy priorities, including the National Climate Change Action Plan. This involves addressing thematic priority areas such as food security, water sufficiency, ecosystem and environmental stability, and human security. To ensure diversity and strategic representation, the CCC is particularly encouraging applications from underrepresented sectors of society. These include Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers in local government units, women leaders in climate emergency response, leaders from indigenous groups, and sustainability champions in national government agencies. In line with the commitment to gender parity, at least 50 percent of the scholarship slots will be dedicated to women. Eligible applicants must possess a strong background in climate change adaptation and mitigation (CCAM) and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM). They should also be government employees holding permanent status with at least five (5) years of continuous service, and preferably with supervisory or management experience. Additionally, applicants must not be more than 55 years old upon application. Interested candidates may submit the necessary documentary requirements, including a Letter of Motivation, Official Nomination Letter, and other supporting documents, to the Asian Institute of Management via email at [email protected]. The nomination period is open until April 15, 2024. The CCC's Selection and Nomination Committee will conduct the primary screening of applicants. Successful nominees will undergo further admission procedures facilitated by AIM. The EMDRCM program offers a comprehensive 18-month master’s curriculum focusing on disaster and crisis management approaches in the Asian Region. It equips students with theoretical foundations and practical applications necessary for effective disaster risk and crisis management. For inquiries, interested parties may contact the CCC through email at [email protected] or by phone at (+632) 8420 5515. (function($) { $('head').append(''); })(jQuery); (function($) {$(function() {$("#ad-gallery_cke_84299gz5_slideShow").on("click",".ad-image",function(){var imgObj =$(this).find("img");var isrc=imgObj.attr("src");var ititle=null;var idesc=null;var iname=isrc.split('/');iname=iname[iname.length-1];var imgdescid=$(this).find(".ad-image-description");if(imgdescid){ititle=$(this).find(".ad-description-title");if(ititle)ititle=ititle.text();if(ititle!='')ititle=''+ititle+'';idesc=$(this).find("span");if(idesc)idesc=idesc.text();if (idesc.indexOf('IMAGE_LINK_') >= 0) {idesc = '';}if(idesc!=''){if(ititle!='')ititle=ititle+'';idesc=''+idesc+'';}}$.fancybox.open({href:isrc,beforeLoad:function(){this.title=ititle+idesc;},});});});})(jQuery); (function($) {$(function() {$("#ad-gallery_cke_84299gz5_slideShow").on("click",".ad-image",function(){var imgObj =$(this).find("img");var isrc=imgObj.attr("src");var ititle=null;var idesc=null;var iname=isrc.split('/');iname=iname[iname.length-1];var imgdescid=$(this).find(".ad-image-description");if(imgdescid){ititle=$(this).find(".ad-description-title");if(ititle)ititle=ititle.text();idesc=$(this).find("span");if(idesc)idesc=idesc.text();if(idesc!=''){var url=window.location.href.trim();if (idesc.indexOf('IMAGE_LINK_TAB:') >= 0) { idesc = idesc.substring(15).trim(); if (url != idesc) window.open(idesc,'_blank');} else if (idesc.indexOf('IMAGE_LINK_PAR:') >= 0) { idesc = idesc.substring(15).trim(); if (url != idesc) window.open(idesc,'_self');}}}});});})(jQuery); (function($) { $('head').append(''); })(jQuery); (function($) {$(function() { var galleries = $('#ad-gallery_cke_84299gz5_slideShow').adGallery({loader_image: '/js/plugins/ckeditor/plugins/slideshow/3rdParty/ad-gallery/loader.gif', width:false, height:400, start_at_index: 0, animation_speed: 500, hooks: { displayDescription: function(image) {}}, update_window_hash: false, effect: 'slide-hori', slideshow: { enable: true, autostart: true, start_label: 'Start', stop_label: 'Stop', speed: 5000}});});})(jQuery);
The CCC and SGV & Co. join forces to drive private sector strategies for low-carbon and sustainable development. MANILA, 8 April 2024 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV & Co.) are poised to further strengthen their collaboration for transformative climate action by identifying areas of cooperation and leveraging public-partner partnerships pathways. CCC and SGV underscored the important role of the private sector in further efforts to bolster adaptive capacities at the local government level and stressed the value of science based and data-driven assessments.. “Adopting a whole-of-society and whole-of-nation approach is critical for success. One of the priority areas that we have is strengthening further the cooperation and partnership with the private sector to drive investment-led, transformative climate actions,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje. SGV & Co. meantime emphasized building capacities for data driven decisions and linking private sector and local government units to support sustainable development and climate initiatives. The SGV & Co. cited the value of integrating private sector decisions that contribute to climate resilience, particularly for local communities.. “We also have to emphasize and highlight the climate resilience of our LGUs. That's one of our goals now, to see how we can help the LGUs be more climate resilient,” said SGV & Co. Chair Wilson P. Tan. The SGV & Co. is a multidisciplinary professional services company that provides advisory services to both public and private sector entities, engaging in policy-making initiatives, climate resilience assessments, carbon market exploration, transition risk analysis, among other crucial areas. The CCC and SGV & Co. are aligning their efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By mobilizing private sector investments towards low-carbon initiatives, this partnership contributes to sustainable development, in line with the broader SDG agenda. As the lead policymaking body of the government on climate change, the CCC is actively engaging with the private sector to foster partnerships aimed at addressing the climate crisis. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.
The Philippines and Germany endeavor to enhance climate action through the TRANSCEND project. MANILA, 27 March 2024 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH or German Development Cooperation, announced the soft launch of the Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development (TRANSCEND) Project. It is a foreign-assisted project aimed at enhancing the country's capacity to implement its climate change and biodiversity policies. Amounting to EUR 36.8 Million, TRANSCEND ensures the transparent, integrated, and accountable implementation of climate projects across all levels of society in the Philippines, soliciting and mediating coordination between government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector. “Climate change poses many challenges and has differentiated impacts on sectors and disproportionate effects on others. Working with Germany on the TRANSCEND project, we can focus on maximizing and optimizing collaboration and cooperation between and among government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector in pushing for a climate smart and climate resilient Philippines. This is the call of our time: a truly whole of society and whole of world approach to address climate change and its impacts,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje during his welcome remarks. Outlined to support the Philippines in achieving its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Distributed Contributions Implementation Plan (NDCIP), TRANSCEND is calibrated to work and assist in key climate intervention areas as identified in the two framework documents. This includes the protection, conservation and rehabilitation of biodiversity and natural carbon sinks, securing of investments to leverage private sector funds and jumpstart transition to a low-carbon economy and create green jobs, synergizing of adaptation and mitigation strategies for effective carbon reduction, avoidance and sequestration of carbon emissions, and establishing multi-stakeholder decision support systems at all levels of government to enhance transparency and accelerate transformative evidence-based policies. “This project allows us to coherently synergize our efforts towards a low-carbon and biodiversity friendly future through improved coordination, fortified partnerships, and maximum impact of our resources. TRANSCEND will catalyze positive change, promoting ‘integrated, transparent, and accountable’ efforts to safeguard the environment for present and future generations,” said Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga as represented by Assistant Secretary Noralene Uy. According to GIZ’s indicative project timeline, TRANSCEND is set to have its hard launch in August this year, following the signing of the project’s Implementation Agreement. The Project holds much significance to both the Philippine and German governments as it marks another chapter of the Philippine-German diplomatic relationship, since its inception 70 years ago. “Germany and the Philippines are partners who share the same values and work hand in hand to strengthen the rule base of the national order in Europe, in Southeast Asia, and everywhere in the world where it is in danger. We have a lot in common and we are reliable partners, and today’s [soft] launching event is again another milestone in our partnership,” said H.E. Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, German Ambassador to the Philippines. Borje added, “It’s important that the Philippine government continues to work and collaborate with partners, particularly with Germany. While the work ahead of us is still long and still requires a lot of hard work, there is a sense of hope and there is a sense of renewal. And pondered upon, it’s going to power the partnership that we currently have from 70 years to beyond.” The CCC continues to actively seek effective and robust local and international partnerships as part of its commitment to enhance the country’s capacity to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate and to usher in a new era of climate resiliency in the Philippines. The TRANSCEND project is deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by focusing on enhancing climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and fostering partnerships for effective implementation. For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) highlights the remarkable women members of its National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE), which serves as the CCC's scientific backbone, providing crucial policy recommendations and technical guidance that have shaped the Commission's strategies over the years. Drawing from their collective knowledge and expertise in diverse fields, including geography, hazards studies, engineering and economics, the women of the NPTE advanced the understanding of climate change and significantly contributed to formulating policies for climate resilience and sustainable development. Comprising 10 out of 16 members, these women have played a vital role in steering the CCC towards creating evidence- and science-based policies, making them leaders of the Commission's climate initiatives. Meet the Women Members of the NPTE: Dr. Doracie B. Zoleta-Nantes, NPTE Chairperson, specialist in geography and hazards studies; and President of Southern Luzon State University in Lucban, Quezon Province. Dr. Emma E.Porio, NPTE Co-Chairperson, expert in climate and disaster vulnerability and gender assessment; Professor Emeritus at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, School of Social Sciences of the Ateneo de Manila University; and leader of "Coastal Cities at Risk: Investing in Climate and Disaster Resilience in the Philippines (CCARPH)" project. Dr. Susan P. Mercado, NPTE Co-Chairperson, international public health and food security expert; former Undersecretary of the Department of Health; and currently the Director of the Food Systems and Resiliency Program at the Hawaii Public Health Institute, as well as Special Envoy of the President for Global Health Initiatives. Dr. Jihan H. Adil, environmental planning and engineering expert, specializing in wastewater and climate change; currently the National President of the Society of Environmental Engineers; and Head of the Department of Environmental Engineering, Western Mindanao State University. Dr. Zenaida L. Andrade, Chemical Engineer and Associate Professor, Program Coordinator of the Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban City. Dr. Gay D. Defiesta, specialist in natural resource and agricultural economics; and Professor at the University of the Philippines Visayas. Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, licensed agricultural engineer specializing in disaster risk management and water resource assessment; currently serving as Associate Professor and Chair of the Interdisciplinary Studies Center for Water (ISCW) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. Engr. Merriam M. Santillan, geodetic engineer and Dean of the College of Engineering and Geosciences at Caraga State University in Butuan City. Dr. Encarnacion Emilia S. Yap, post-harvest fisheries technology specialist; and Dean of the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas. Dr. Maria Angela G. Zafra, expert in inclusive business models, sustainable finance, and gender inclusivity, serving as an adjunct faculty at the School of Business and Governance, Ateneo de Davao University; and executive director of the Strategia Development Research Institute. This diverse representation sends a strong message concerning gender equality in the field of science. With women forming a significant majority in the NPTE, it confronts the notion of science being predominantly male-driven, affirming that women play crucial roles as catalysts for innovation and progress. The CCC celebrates the achievements of these women experts while recognizing the need for continued efforts to promote gender equality in the field of science. As CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje stated, "We must work to dismantle barriers and create an environment where girls and women can thrive in science. Their participation and leadership is vital for building a more climate-resilient and sustainable future." The CCC recognizes the potential of women in science and urges the provision of the necessary support and encouragement for the next generation of female scientists. May the story of the NPTE stand as an inspiration for young girls to pursue their passion for science. Let us pave the way for a future where science serves as a powerful tool for positive change, driven by the brilliance and leadership of women. For more information about the CCC’s climate mainstreaming activities, visit the website of the CCC at https://climate.gov.ph and https://facebook.com/cccphl.
