Climate Change Commission

The Climate Change Act of 2009 declared it a policy of the State to incorporate a gender-sensitive, pro-children and pro-poor perspective in all climate change and renewable energy efforts, plans, and programs. In 2012, the amendments to the Climate Change law provided for the creation of a local climate change adaptation fund, the People’s Survival Fund, the utilization of which shall take into account projects responsive to gender-differentiated vulnerabilities, among other considerations.

The implementation of these important provisions of said legislative measures in the policies and programs of the Climate Change Commission ensured and promoted the (1) active involvement of women in decision-making (through its multi-stakeholder consultations, capacity-building initiatives, and participation in international climate negotiations); (2) integration of gender concerns and perspectives in policies and programmes (through the development and updating of plans); and (3) assessment of the impact of climate-resilient development policies and interventions on women (through monitoring and evaluation reports and gender analysis of projects for funding under the People’s Survival Fund and other climate finance facilities).

In 2019, the CCC adopted the Commission Resolution 2019-02, the Resolution resolved to strengthen gender-based approaches in the formulation and implementation of climate change policies, plans, programs, and activities in the country, including the generation of sex-disaggregated data and conduct of gender analysis. Moreover, it resolved to coordinate with agencies concerned in promulgating policies, directives, and initiatives supportive of the collaborative approach to accomplish the objectives of the Resolution.

The Commission is also undertaking a new initiative with support from the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Support Programme to conduct a NDC gender analysis that will provide entry points in ensuring that gender-responsive initiatives are incorporated in the Philippines’ first NDC.

Lastly, the CCC has also ensured that gender-balance and women representation is present within the organization. Under its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, the Commission shall be composed of four Commissioners, including the President as ex-officio Chairperson. At least one of the Commissioners shall be a woman. Also, the Commission established a GAD Focal Point System to monitor the GAD mainstreaming efforts of the Commission in climate actions, and appointed gender focal points to international fora i.e. UNFCCC and IPCC.

Targets Beneficiaries

The target beneficiaries of this initiative are women, girls, and other vulnerable gender groups.

Convergence

To ensure that the Climate Change Commission’s policies, programs, measures, and activities are aligned with the national gender equality and women empowerment goals, it established a deep convergence with the Philippine Commission on Women.

Outputs

The major accomplishments and programmed activities of the CCC on gender and climate change are reported to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Women Empowerment Review[1]:

Enabling Policies and Institutional Mechanisms

- In November 2018, the Climate Change Commission and Philippine Commission on Women forged a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure the implementation of gender mainstreaming in the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) and build capacity for engendering climate actions.

-In January 2019, through Commission Resolution 2019-02, the Climate Change Commission resolved to strengthen gender-based approaches in the formulation and implementation of climate change policies, plans, programs, and activities in the country, including the generation of sex-disaggregated data and conduct of gender analysis. Moreover, it resolved to coordinate with agencies concerned in promulgating policies, directives, and initiatives supportive of the collaborative approach to accomplish the objectives of the Resolution.

NCCAP Monitoring and Evaluation Report 2012-2016

The CCC leads the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2011-2028.

The M&E report for 2012 to 2016 reviewed the mainstreaming of climate change actions at the policy and system level to capture the level of response to climate change impacts.

The M&E report used a nationwide results-based M&E system with gender considerations incorporated in the indicators to identify and monitor the results that can be attributed to NCCAP interventions.

In the seven thematic priorities of the NCCAP, two thematic priorities have been identified to have climate change and gender-related actions covering the reporting period of 2014-2016:

- Environmental and Ecological Stability

The National Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) system for the Philippines 2012-2017 reported that 43% of the over 13,000 trained were women. They were trained on safeguards information system, land use planning, and forest resources assessment.

Furthermore, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Forestry Management Bureau reported that in Panay, 10% of the 725 trained Bantay Gubat (Forest watchers) were women. They were trained in forest protection and community-based law enforcement.

- Climate Smart Industries and Services

The Philippines enacted the Green Jobs Act of 2016 that will enable the just transition to a low carbon green economy. The law defined “green jobs” as “employment that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment, be it in the agriculture, industry or services sector,” and “decent jobs that are productive, respect the rights of workers, deliver a fair income, provide security in the workplace and social protection for families, and promote social dialogue.”

Philippine Nationally Determined Contribution

In 2015, the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris Agreement, whereby Parties are required to submit a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The Parties’ NDCs will communicate its ambitious efforts on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The Philippine Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) submitted in the same year, stated that the Philippines will continuously pursue reforms to address climate change while safeguarding the full enjoyment of human rights, gender equality, and full and equal participation of women.

Currently, the Philippines is preparing to submit its first NDC to the UNFCCC.

The CCC also leads the development of an NDC Gender Action Plan, which will ensure that gender equality and inclusive participation is taken into consideration in the NDC implementation.

Green Jobs Assessment and Certification Standards

The CCC, under the Green Jobs Act of 2016, was mandated to develop and administer appropriate standards for the assessment and certification of green goods and services, and green technologies and practices for the purpose of regulating the availment of incentives under the law.

The CCC, in the development of said standards, engaged the Philippine Commission on Women as one of the key stakeholders to ensure that gender consideration is included in the certification process.

Gender-Responsive Capacity-Building Initiatives

The CCC undertakes capacity-building efforts for national government agencies, higher educational institutions, and local government units through the Communities for Resilience and Support to Climate Field Schools programs. It also holds project proposal development writeshops and training to facilitate access of local government units to climate finance facilities, such as the People’s Survival Funds.

The CCC ensured the gender balance of participants, trainers, experts, and coordinators involved in these programs. The CCC also included indigenous cultural communities who are particularly vulnerable, among the beneficiaries in its knowledge-sharing and capacity-building programs.

In 2017, CCC supported efforts of the Department of Agriculture and helped sustain the Climate resiliency Field Schools (CrFS) piloted by the Rice Watch Action Network (R1) in select partner municipalities.

The objective was to cover more stakeholders in the CrFS and raise awareness among local government officials and farmers on climate action. At least 45 barangays with a total of 577 enrollees from 13 local government units were covered by the CrFS intensive and special learning sessions.

In 2018, the CrFS program of R1 won the Gender-Just Climate Solutions Award, Transformational Climate Solutions category, from the Women and Gender Constituency of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The CrFS was recognized for engaging women and youth, promoting diversification of income sources, and capacitating women on activities traditionally dominated by men.

In November 2019, the CCC in collaboration with the NDC Partnership conducted a Peer-to-peer learning exchange on Mainstreaming Gender Equality in the NDC in the Asia Pacific Region. This workshop provided an enabling platform for the countries in the Asia Pacific region to discuss how to mainstream gender in their NDC development process.

Moreover, this workshop has also built a common understanding of the nexus between Gender and Climate Change. The Philippines was chosen as the host countries given its major role in the international community in championing gender equality and women’s empowerment.

International Climate Change Negotiations

The Philippines is highly regarded in the negotiation process at the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC as a leader of developing countries. In several instances, the Philippines has been nominated by the Parties to facilitate a negotiating group.

As Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum in 2015, the Philippines, on behalf of 48 developing countries, led the advocacy for the ambitious global warming threshold of 1.5C, now enshrined in the Paris Agreement as its long-term temperature goal (stated as: “limiting global average temperature to well below 2 °C and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C”).

The Philippine advocacy for a highly ambitious climate goal has upheld the fundamental principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, as well as historical responsibilities, and climate justice.

Gender Balance in the Philippine Delegation

The Philippine Delegation to COPs is comprised of at least 40% women, including senior negotiators, experts, and technical staff.

The Philippine Delegation continues to enjoin developed countries to improve their mitigation targets, mobilize climate finance, and accelerate its flow as well as the development and transfer of technology.

Support to Gender Decisions of the UNFCCC

The Philippines has actively supported the development of a Gender Action Plan of the UNFCCC. In 2016, the Philippines, through a formal submission to the UNFCCC, proposed elements and guiding principles for the advancement of the Lima Work Program on Gender and Climate Change, including (i) development of skills and capacity-building training programs on gender and climate change for both UNFCCC Secretariat and State Parties; and (ii) mainstreaming a gender perspective in the Guidelines on National Communication, including financial commitments of Parties that are in line with women’s human rights and gender equality.

At COP23 in 2018, Parties adopted a Gender Action Plan and invited the Secretariat and relevant organizations to undertake the activities under priority areas - capacity-building, knowledge sharing and communication, gender balance, participation and women’s leadership, consistent implementation of gender-related mandates and activities, and gender-responsive implementation and means of implementation.

Designation of Gender Focal Points to the UNFCCC and IPCC

In 2017, the Philippines designated its National Gender Focal Point to the UNFCCC to assist with all gender-related decisions and mandates under the UNFCCC processes.

In 2018, the Philippines nominated two gender focal points to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Task Group on Gender, with the aim of developing a framework of goals and actions to improve gender balance and address gender-related issues within the IPCC. The IPCC is the lead scientific body serving the UNFCCC.

Philippine Membership in the Green Climate Fund Board

The Philippines secured a seat as an alternate member of the Green Climate Fund Board from 2019 to 2022, providing an opportunity to shape the policies of the Board and its funding decisions. Senator Loren Legarda serves as the Philippine representative, and most of her advisers, are women.

Support for other international platforms related to Gender and Climate Change

In 2019, the CCC, together with the PCW and other agencies, represented the Philippines in the Asia Pacific Ministerial Review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform+25. The Commission as part of the working group on developing the Asia Pacific Ministerial Review Document ensured that the Philippine national policy on climate change is present Ministerial Document.

Gender-Responsive Country Programme for the Green Climate Fund

The CCC, as the National Designated Authority to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), leads the development of the Philippine Country Programme to the GCF for the period 2018 to 2022, in consultation with various stakeholders, including the Philippine Commission on Women. The GCF is a global fund created to support developing countries in responding to climate change.

The draft Country Programme, which identifies projects/programs that will help the country attain its ultimate goal of achieving climate resilience and green growth, considers existing gender, environmental, and social safeguards and recognizes the Gender Policy of the GCF.

It takes into consideration outcome and output areas in the National Climate Change Action Plan with corresponding result areas in the GCF, such as improved equitable access of men and women to sustainable water supply and accessible gender knowledge products on climate change.

Programs, activities, and projects in the draft Country Programme were shortlisted based on country ownership, impact potential, and sustainable development potential, which includes potential to address gender inequalities and empower women.

Gender Mainstreaming in Knowledge Exchange Platforms

The CCC convenes and hosts local and international fora, workshops, and training for technical experts to help build the capacities of institutions and stakeholders to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate adaptation and mitigation programs and projects.

The annual observance of the Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week in November provides another opportunity for the Commission to gather thousands of stakeholders and showcase the collective efforts of all sectors towards increased climate action.

The CCC ensured the gender balance of participants, trainers, resource persons, experts, moderators, facilitators, and coordinators involved in these activities.

Most notably, in 2018, the CCC, together with the Asian Development Bank, the Government of Palau, and the United Nations Environment Programme, Secretariat of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN), organized the 6th Asia Pacific Climate Change Adaptation Forum in in Manila.

A gathering of more than 1,000 adaptation experts from government ministries, academic and research institutions, non-governmental and civil society organizations, financial institutions, private sector, and UN agencies from over 70 countries, the Forum focused on learning from adaptation action, moving towards climate-resilient development.

Through this international knowledge exchange platform, the CCC organized sessions of leading experts and champions of gender mainstreaming to promote the integration of gender perspectives in climate impact assessments and climate actions.

The Forum delivered the following key messages:

Gender equality aspects should be integrated into climate adaptation plans, strategies, and actions. This supports and strengthens existing capacities, and facilitates women’s economic empowerment, and builds women’s leadership and skills – particularly in plans relating to migration, resettlement/relocation, and disaster preparedness and response. Women are agents of global change and must be empowered, while their climate adaptation actions, stories, and innovations should be highlighted.

There is a need to establish a knowledge management platform on gender mainstreaming climate change adaptation. This would allow for upscaling efforts, including attracting investments in technology and data, which would assist in equipping women to build resilience in their communities, in the face of projected disasters.

Research must work across sectors and utilize all available expertise. It is important to strive for gender parity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to make the best use of human resources.

Adaptation often involves being innovative in finding solutions to address locally-specific risks. Science-informed governance which is inclusive, and puts the welfare of the communities, especially women, children and vulnerable groups at the core of climate action and investment plans, provides the ideal environment to build genuine resilience and ensure ‘no one is left behind’.

For FY 2020

Delivery of the Gender, Climate Change, and Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) training for the Commission on Audit
Represented the CCC and delivered a presentation during the Regional Gender and Climate Change Virtual Workshop, 22 July 2020
Continued collaboration with PCW on joint activities for mainstreaming gender and climate change
Development and implementation of the CCC GAD M&E Framework
Preparation of the CCC GAD Accomplishment Report for FY2019

Ways Forward:

For 2020, the CCC will begin the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation Guidance Document of Commission Resolution No. 2019-002.

[1]The document contains the Philippines accomplishments in gender equality and women’s empowerment for 2014-2019

Through the Asia Pacific Adaptation Forum, an international knowledge exchange platform, the CCC organized sessions of leading experts and champions of gender mainstreaming to promote the integration of gender perspectives in climate impact assessments and climate actions.

The Forum delivered the following key messages:

Gender equality aspects should be integrated into climate adaptation plans, strategies, and actions. This supports and strengthens existing capacities, and facilitates women’s economic empowerment, and builds women’s leadership and skills – particularly in plans relating to migration, resettlement/relocation, and disaster preparedness and response. Women are agents of global change and must be empowered, while their climate adaptation actions, stories, and innovations should be highlighted.

There is a need to establish a knowledge management platform on gender mainstreaming in climate change adaptation. This would allow for upscaling efforts, including attracting investments in technology and data, which would assist in equipping women to build resilience in their communities, in the face of projected disasters.
Research must work across sectors and utilize all available expertise. It is important to strive for gender parity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, to make the best use of human resources.

Adaptation often involves being innovative in finding solutions to address locally-specific risks. Science-informed governance which is inclusive, and puts the welfare of the communities, especially women, children and vulnerable groups at the core of climate action and investment plans, provides the ideal environment to build genuine resilience and ensure ‘no one is left behind’.

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