MANILA, 7 June 2019 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) reiterated its call for countries, especially the developed nations, to ramp up climate action efforts and to deliver more ambitious commitments to mitigation with utmost urgency and equity. CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman said the Philippines, being one of the most vulnerable countries that bear the brunt of the devastating effects of climate change, will continue to actively pursue climate action in the context of climate justice. “We support the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte, our chairman in the Commission, that all governments must do their fair share in combating the climate crisis,” De Guzman said. “Unfortunately, global action has been slow. The Philippines has been actively pursuing climate action, but largely on our own efforts and resources. We have no choice but to act, and sometimes we have bilateral partners to thank for when they give some help. With the unrelenting impacts of climate change in our communities, we must do all we can to survive and thrive as a people and nation,” he continued. In his visit to Tokyo, Japan earlier, President Duterte stressed in his speech that the Philippines has demonstrated leadership in global consensus to fight climate change, adding that the climate negotiations would hold and undertake real action, especially by those most responsible for this momentous problem. “There is indeed a need for clarity of commitments by all countries on mitigation and climate finance. It’s time to raise the profile of climate issues and radically step up our efforts. We need real action and accountability from the developed countries that is primarily responsible for the climate crisis. This has been the negotiation stance of the Philippines in calling for more ambitious and faster climate action by. This has also been the essence of our fight for the 1.5oC global warming limit,” De Guzman said. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on a 1.5 degrees warmer world released last year paints a grim scenario of the worst impacts of climate change such as the increasing risk to drought, flood, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. It underscores the most urgent need for rapid global action. World leaders have only 12 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 45% of 2010 levels if they want to limit global warming to 1.5oC. More than 195 countries, including the Philippines, that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are meeting annually at the Conference of Parties since 1995 to take stock of their progress, monitor the implementation of their obligations and continue talks on how best to tackle climate change. It is, therefore, important for the Philippines to participate and to be at the forefront of the international efforts to address climate change. De Guzman explained that, in the global community, the Philippines is highly regarded as a leader of the climate vulnerable developing countries (CVF), as it championed and upheld the endeared principles on climate justice, human rights, ecosystems integrity, gender, grant-based climate finance, loss and damage, and comprehensive disaster risk management, to mention a few areas of discourse for the Paris Agreement on climate change. “In accordance with the Paris Agreement, climate finance, capacity building, and technology transfer from the developed world must clearly come to our shore, considering that the country has been in the frontline of climate impacts,” De Guzman said. The next round of climate talks will be held in Santiago, Chile in December where countries will work on the progress of climate action. “All countries must exhibit leadership and deliver on commitments. Let us step up our global climate action toward securing a climate-safe future,” De Guzman said.

Manila, Philippines 24 May 2019 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC), pursuant to law, is updating the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028 (NCCAP) with a whole-of-government-and-society approach. “We are updating the NCCAP to advance climate actions based on the country’s current development priorities, climate finance strategies, and research and development needs,” CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said. When completed, the updated NCCAP will articulate two component plans: the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) that presents the climate actions in seven priority areas, and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that defines the country’s pathway for low-carbon development consistent with the 1.5°C long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. Guided by the President’s policy direction to address climate change without impeding the country’s economic development, De Guzman said the NDC will serve as a ready reference for investments in innovative and transformative low-carbon projects for the country’s green economic growth and sustainable industrial development. “Although we emit only less than half of one percent of the global emissions, submitting an ambitious NDC in  the context of our national capability and circumstance is critical in enjoining other nations to heed the call for urgent and ambitious action,” De Guzman said. “We will pursue mitigation as a function of adaptation, which is the country’s anchor climate action strategy,” he added. Aside from the NCCAP and NDC, the CCC is also fast-tracking the development of standards and certification system for providing incentives to enterprises that generate and sustain green jobs, pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 101 or the Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016.  CCC is also developing a framework for mainstreaming culture-sensitive climate actions of indigenous peoples’ communities in local development plans. All these government initiatives are further strengthened by the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which contains over 30 general and specific provisions that mainstream and advance the country’s climate and disaster resilience agenda. “Since 2014, our annual budget laws have included general and specific provisions that mainstream and advance the country’s climate and disaster resilience agenda,” De Guzman noted. “This year’s budget law is no different. It reiterates the mandates and responsibilities of agencies under the country’s landmark laws on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction,” he added. One of the special provisions of the 2019 GAA is for the Department of Education to ensure the integration of climate change adaptation, mitigation (CCAM), and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the regular subjects in both public and private schools. To ensure that the CCAM and DRR measures are appropriate and responsive in the light of intensifying natural hazards, this year’s budget law also requires multi-scenario, probabilistic risk analysis for all national government projects to be implemented. Pursuant to this, the CCC recently adopted the National Climate Risk Management Framework—an approach for the systematic generation, consolidation, and exchange of climate risk data and information to inform national and local development and investment planning. Another vital provision of the 2019 GAA is the establishment of multi-hazard impact-based forecasting and early warning systems, including the development and enhancement of protocols for early warning and early action. Related to this, the  CCC is facilitating the development of a national integrated risk information system that is accessible to all stakeholders and a national loss and damage registry that uses standard metrics and protocols for valuation and validation. “This year is another busy year for the Commission. In pursuit of our mandates under the law, the CCC will continue to ensure the efficient, effective, and synergistic implementation of climate actions at the national and local levels,” De Guzman said.

Manila, Philippines 23 May 2019 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC), pursuant to law, is updating the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028 (NCCAP) with a whole-of-government-and-society approach. “We are updating the NCCAP to advance climate actions based on the country’s current development priorities, climate finance strategies, and research and development needs,” CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said. When completed, the updated NCCAP will articulate two component plans: the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) that presents the climate actions in seven priority areas, and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that defines the country’s pathway for low-carbon development consistent with the 1.5°C long-term temperature goal of the Paris Agreement. Guided by the President’s policy direction to address climate change without impeding the country’s economic development, De Guzman said the NDC will serve as a ready reference for investments in innovative and transformative low-carbon projects for the country’s green economic growth and sustainable industrial development. “Although we emit only less than half of one percent of the global emissions, submitting an ambitious NDC in  the context of our national capability and circumstance is critical in enjoining other nations to heed the call for urgent and ambitious action,” De Guzman said. “We will pursue mitigation as a function of adaptation, which is the country’s anchor climate action strategy,” he added. Aside from the NCCAP and NDC, the CCC is also fast-tracking the development of standards and certification system for providing incentives to enterprises that generate and sustain green jobs, pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 101 or the Philippine Green Jobs Act of 2016.  CCC is also developing a framework for mainstreaming culture-sensitive climate actions of indigenous peoples’ communities in local development plans. All these government initiatives are further strengthened by the 2019 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which contains over 30 general and specific provisions that mainstream and advance the country’s climate and disaster resilience agenda. “Since 2014, our annual budget laws have included general and specific provisions that mainstream and advance the country’s climate and disaster resilience agenda,” De Guzman noted. “This year’s budget law is no different. It reiterates the mandates and responsibilities of agencies under the country’s landmark laws on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction,” he added. One of the special provisions of the 2019 GAA is for the Department of Education to ensure the integration of climate change adaptation, mitigation (CCAM), and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the regular subjects in both public and private schools. To ensure that the CCAM and DRR measures are appropriate and responsive in the light of intensifying natural hazards, this year’s budget law also requires multi-scenario, probabilistic risk analysis for all national government projects to be implemented. Pursuant to this, the CCC recently adopted the National Climate Risk Management Framework—an approach for the systematic generation, consolidation, and exchange of climate risk data and information to inform national and local development and investment planning. Another vital provision of the 2019 GAA is the establishment of multi-hazard impact-based forecasting and early warning systems, including the development and enhancement of protocols for early warning and early action. Related to this, the  CCC is facilitating the development of a national integrated risk information system that is accessible to all stakeholders and a national loss and damage registry that uses standard metrics and protocols for valuation and validation. “This year is another busy year for the Commission. In pursuit of our mandates under the law, the CCC will continue to ensure the efficient, effective, and synergistic implementation of climate actions at the national and local levels,” De Guzman said.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES 09 May 2019—In observance of the Month of the Ocean, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called for united action to halt the worsening state of our marine ecosystems by minimizing plastic pollution. The Philippines is known for its rich marine ecosystems but is also one of the major sources of plastic trash in the world, contributing almost three million metric tons of plastic wastes and 500,000 metric tons of plastic waste leakage per year. In a report released by the Ocean Conservancy, the Philippines was among the top plastic-waste producers in the world alongside neighboring Asian countries, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Thailand.  “Heathy oceans are critical to the global fight against climate change inasmuch as climate action is needed to protect our oceans. It is in this spirit that the CCC echoes the call to protect our oceans by eliminating plastic waste and plastic pollution,” CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said. A study conducted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in partnership with the World Economic Forum, predicts that there could be more plastics than fish in the ocean (by weight) by 2050.  According to the report, the worldwide use of plastic has increased 20 fold in the past 50 years and it is expected to double again in the next 20 years. “As the fight for climate action and ocean protection becomes one and the same, it is high time for concerned sectors to demonstrate real leadership in reversing the plastic crisis,” De Guzman said.  De Guzman urged the private sector and concerned government agencies to step up with innovative, game-changing, and sustainable measures that would eliminate problematic or unnecessary single-use plastic packaging and substantially reduce plastic waste leakage into our oceans. “There is no silver bullet to protect our oceans and our climate against plastic pollution. We need all sectors to work together to come up with concrete and systematic solutions at the soonest possible time,” he added. De Guzman also urged the public to veer away from the throwaway culture by reducing, reusing, and recycling plastics. “Let us start making choices today that save our oceans and our climate from plastic wastes,” he said. The Month of the Ocean is celebrated annually in the Philippines during the month of May by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 57 issued in 1999.   

DAVAO CITY 8 MAY 2019 – More than 35 representatives from the Local Government Unit (LGU), academe, and private sector participated in the three-day Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHG) training for LGUs and stakeholders conducted by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) on 30 April to 02 May 2019. Among the participants were the officials and personnel from the City Administrator’s Office, Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator (OCPDC), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), City Engineering’s Office (CEO), City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), DENR-EMB Regional office, Ateneo De Davao University, and Aboitiz Power Company.  The training workshop highlighted the importance of “community-level inventory” which accounts the carbon footprint within the geopolitical boundary of the city. The workshop also explained how to integrate GHG inventory on the local planning process of the LGU. Using the said framework, participants were able to identify possible emission data sources from the agriculture, forestry, waste, land use, and energy and transport sectors, and gave close attention on the GHG emission from the industry sector. Davao City’s actual data for each sector were used during the emission calculation exercises. This is to give the participants a deeper understanding and appreciation of the process and its outcomes. “This new knowledge and skills that we learned can help improve the Davao City’s disaster risk reduction management. If we have this GHGI, we could craft specific projects that will reduce emissions… and eventually reduce the national hazards produced by climate change. We would also like to thank the Climate Change Commission for this training. We will use this knowledge for the betterment of our city,” said Davao CTTMO representative.  This GHGI workshop was requested by the Davao City LGU officials to enhance further the city’s Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP), and improve their adaptation and mitigation actions, in support of the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) on climate change through Local Executive Order No. 40 last January 2019.  

PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA 25 March2019 –To mainstream climate change adaptation and to increase the quality and quantity of climate change reporting in the country, the Climate Change Commission, journalists and communication officers agreed to collaborate and come up with proposed communication strategies during the 7th National Panel of Technical Experts’ (NPTE) Forum held recently at the Development Academy of the Philippines, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. “Despite the government’s campaign to raise awareness on climate change, numerous warnings from the scientific community, and the availability of scientific studies online and through media coverage, it has yet to break through in terms of effectively changing people’s behaviour or ways of doing things,” said CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman on his opening remarks speech. With the theme, “Strengthening Media Capacity in Communicating Climate Change,” this NPTE Forum aims to bridge the communications gap between and among climate experts, the Philippine media and communications officers in reporting climate change-related issues. The workshop also aimed at strengthening the capacity of our media in effectively communicating climate change to the policymakers and to the general public.More than 30 journalists, communications officers and government information officers participated in the NPTE workshop with the media. “People are aware of the concept of climate change but they lack understanding on the phenomenon. More work needs to be done in making our people understand that failure to act swiftly on climate change will result in unprecedented loss and damage and pose as existential threat to humans and societies,” he added. The forum, moderated by Mr. Ludwig Federigan of CCC, highlights the presentations of the NPTE members, Dr. Laura David and Dr. Rosa Perez, on climate science and climate projections. Mr. Arnold Belver from CCC also shared the country’s position on the recently-concluded Conference of Parties (COP24) and the importance of the successful implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to climate resiliency and sustainable development. Dr. David explained that the Philippines, as an archipelagic country, musttake actions on coastal area management and harness the ocean as a renewable energy source. In pursuing the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement on climate change, Dr. Perez stressed that the window of opportunity to achieve this goal is slowly closing, and our lack of strong political will hinder us in addressing climate change. A panel discussion was also participated in by experts such as Dr. Leoncio Amadore, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Dr. David and Dr. Perez about the outcome of the COP24 international climate change negotiations and on how experts and media can improve their partnership in communicating climate change. Participants also joined the group activity, facilitated by Ms. Imelda Abaño, the President of the Philippine Network Environmental Journalists, on how to address the communication gaps, solutions on how to increase the quality and quantity of climate change reporting, innovative tools and ways to present climate change that the public best understand. The participants agreed to collaborate with the CCC in mainstreaming climate change adaptation by continuously participating in the activities of the CCC and joining in capacity building activities for the media. Dr. Glenn Paraso, one of the NPTE, reiterated in his closing remarks the importance of collaboration between the government, experts and the media in effectively communicating climate change to the public.

Every March 22, we raise the profile of water in the global agenda, challenging us to spur action on ensuring the safety and sufficiency of freshwater and sanitation for all. This year's World Water Day is about tackling the water crisis and the reasons why so many people are being left behind. Safe water and sanitation are both necessary for societies to achieve resiliency and sustainability. To echo the statement of the United Nations Water, water is the primary medium through which we will feel the effects of climate change. Water availability is becoming less predictable in many places, and increased incidences of flooding threaten water sources and sanitation facilities. Population growth, rapid urbanization, and climate change have aggravated the already strained water resources. On this day, we rise to the challenge of Leaving No One Behind, the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The theme highlights the importance of advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources and advancing initiatives aligned with the goal of the Paris Agreement of limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 °C. As stated in the IPCC Special Report, limiting global warming to 1.5°C is projected to lower the impacts on terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems, and will retain more of their services to humanity. Pursuing this Paris goal also reduces the proportion of the world population exposed to climate change-induced·water scarcity by up to 50%. With this, the Climate Change Commission calls on government agencies, stakeholders, development partners and individuals to go beyond raising awareness and to make a remarkable difference in our communities and our planet through collective climate actions. SECRETARY EMMANUEL M. DE GUZMAN Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Climate Change Commission

On March 21, 2019, delegates from Bhutan, Mongolia, Philippines, and Vietnam signed a Declaration on South-South Cooperation to access climate finance, particularly the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and to combat climate change. The declaration was signed during the South-South Learning Exchange towards Accessing the GCF, which was organized by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), through the GCF Readiness Programme and in partnership with the Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies (REECS), held in Quezon City on March 20-21. “Through this declaration, we express our commitment to address climate change and pursue green growth by sharing knowledge and best practices among fellow climate-vulnerable countries, and as one, to call for increased project and programme development support from the GCF for adaptation and mitigation priorities of our communities,” said Climate Change Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera. Read the declaration in full.

On March 21, the world observes the International Day of Forests with the theme, “Forests and Education.” The observance seeks to raise awareness on how sustainably managed forests provide a wide array of contributions to building a climate-resilient human society and a sustainable future for all. Forests cover one third of the Earth’s land mass, performing vital functions around the world. According to the United Nations, around 1.6 billion people including 2,000 indigenous cultures depend on forests for their livelihood. On this momentous day, we, in the Climate Change Commission, encourage all national and local government officials, stakeholders, and development partners to double their efforts and to raise awareness on the importance of sustainably managed forests. With strong leadership, sense of urgency, and true commitment to a decisive multilateral response, we could save our deteriorating forests. We should recognize that maintaining the pristine state of our forests and its multiple economic and environmental values is crucial in attaining climate resiliency and sustainable development. Now more than ever, enhancing understanding and awareness on the importance of forests through education defines the future of the people and the planet. May this celebration inspire us to take a more active role in our collective mission of advancing education on protecting and preserving our forests towards achieving a climate-resilient Philippines. SECRETARY EMMANUEL M. DE GUZMAN Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Climate Change Commission

Climate Change Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera said that shifting investments towards low carbon development is an opportunity for growth that is already encouraged by our laws and national plans. Herrera made the statement in her keynote speech at the Shifting Financial Flows to Invest in Low Carbon Development in Energy in Eastern Visayas, held in Tacloban and organized by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), in cooperation with the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Visayas State University’s Strategic Research and Development Studies, and Action for Economic Reforms. “The Philippines should exercise leadership by not further contributing to global warming and this climate crisis. Shifting towards low carbon development is not detrimental to our economy, but in fact, an opportunity for growth to those willing to take it,” Herrera said. Herrera mentioned that an estimated $4.12 billion is required to carry out the low carbon development initiatives under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) in the areas of green technology innovations, energy efficient technologies, climate-smart infrastructures and designs, and green urban transport systems. She also cited laws that already encourage low carbon development, such as the Green Jobs Act of 2016, which supports the transformation of sectors through the creation of green jobs and just transition towards a green economy; and the Renewable Energy Law of 2008, which advances the development and use of renewable energy in the country. Herrera also commended the Eastern Visayas as a region whose energy mix has significant contribution from geothermal and a growing share from solar energy, as well as the recent declaration of Negros Occidental as a source of clean and renewable energy and a coal-free province. “Let us use these good practices as a stepping stone in creating small island RE grids and in diversifying our energy mix even more by replacing fossil and coal with cleaner energy technologies,” Herrera said. Herrera also assured that the Climate Change Commission, as the lead agency for the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) process and as the National Designated Authority (NDA) to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), will further enable the transition towards a low carbon economy, but noted that the help from all sectors will be crucial to its success. “Your government cannot enable this shift alone. As we put in place the right conditions to attract domestic and foreign low carbon investments, our financial institutions and private banks must sustain and escalate this green growth to reach new heights,” Herrera concluded. For reference: Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera's Keynote Speech

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (21 February 2019) – Employees of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) participated in the “duck, cover and hold” exercise on Thursday afternoon (February 21, 2019) for the first quarter nationwide simultaneous earthquake drill. The simultaneous earthquake drill was initiated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to raise awareness on what to do and what to avoid during and after an earthquake to prevent injury and eventualities as well as to test the response plans of agencies should an earthquake occur. Led by CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman, all employees were also instructed to move out of the building upon hearing the siren, which lasted for about 30 seconds. They moved at the nearest exit in an orderly manner and gathered in a safe area for evacuation and head count. CCC Secretary De Guzman said that through this exercise, it would further strengthen disaster preparedness through public participation to minimize risks during an earthquake.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES 11 February 2019 – The Climate Change Commission commends the Local Government of Davao City for the creation of a Climate Change Technical Working Group that will facilitate the updating of the city’s Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP). “This move shows the resolve of the city government to mainstream climate change mitigation and adaptation in the city’s local development plans, and to adopt methods for monitoring carbon emissions from its various sectors through a local greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory system,” Climate Change Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said. The Climate Change Act of 2009 requires all local government units (LGUs) to craft an action plan to build the adaptive capacity and resilience of communities to the impacts of climate change. However, according to the data from the Department of Interior and Local Government-Bureau of Local Government Supervision, only 1,073 out of 1715 local government units have LCCAPs as of 2018. “More than being a requirement of the law, creating an action plan should be a moral responsibility for local leaders. Non-action on climate change is an injustice to the poor and the most vulnerable who are the most affected by disasters and the long-term impacts of the planet’s warming,” De Guzman noted. Davao City’s recent efforts to update its LCCAP are expected to strengthen ongoing climate actions in the city, particularly the projects under its Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Kitakyushu in Japan on the establishment of a Green Sister City Cooperation. The partnership aims to develop both cities as world-class communities through effective and mutually beneficial cooperation on clean and green initiatives, such as resource cycling and capacity building. “The Commission lauds Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for her leadership in pursuing the kind of development for Davao that will lead its rapidly growing economy and urbanized population towards resilience and sustainable development,” De Guzman said. “We encourage more cities and municipalities to follow suit and intensify their efforts on building strong and climate-smart communities,” he added.

QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES 8 February 2019 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on February 7, 2019 to tackle public health challenges emerging from rising temperatures through integrating climate change curriculum into tertiary education in medical schools.  CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said the signing of the MoU recognizes that the protection and enhancement of health is an essential pillar of sustainable development, adding that one of the Commission’s mission is to engage health professionals in policy decisions on climate adaptation mitigation actions. “The insights of medical practitioners are valuable in ensuring that national and local climate change interventions would also protect and promote the health of our people,” Secretary De Guzman said in his speech before a group of medical practitioners in the country.  Secretary De Guzman added that the Commission has organized last year a series of forums and dialogues with hospital administrators on the co-benefits of turning hospitals and healthcare facilities into climate-smart institutions through its Green Hospital Initiative.  “Our goal is to trigger more in-depth discussions on scientific and practical issues residing at the climate-health nexus and to facilitate the establishment of networks that could serve as avenues for communication and sharing of resources within the health sector,” the Secretary said. “Given the substantial carbon footprint of the hospitals and healthcare facilities, we also recognize that technological advancements for healthcare could be strong enablers of climate action.”  The agreement will ensure the development of a “Climate Change Curriculum in Medical and Tertiary Education” which aims to develop climate change curriculum in 54 medical schools, tertiary health courses, and conduct residency trainings in hospitals. The MoU will also provide a strategic collaboration to further strengthen the aim of the Commission in mainstreaming climate change in all sectors in pursuit of the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.  “Through this agreement, we are taking one step forward in advancing our cause and delivering the health benefits we desire for our people,” De Guzman said.  The signing of the MoU was witnessed by Dr. Evelyn C. Cruzada of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, Office of the President; Dr. Virginia D. Aldate of the Commission on Higher Education; Mr. Naderev M. Sano, former CCC Commissioner and now Executive Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia; Mr. Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of Health Care Without Harm – Asia; and Mr. Rodne R. Galicha, Country Manager of The Climate Reality Project Philippines

CARCAR CITY, CEBU PHILIPPINES  7 February 2019 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) has urged cooperatives to use their network in local communities to raise awareness on local climate adaptation and mitigation practices.   “We strongly believe that tapping into the energy and dynamism of cooperatives nationwide would help in advancing the country’s climate agenda forward. I hope we would be able to find more points for convergence and collaboration on climate action,” CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said during the Cooperative Forum on February 5 organized by the Cooperatives Development Authority (CDA) and the City Government of Cebu. De Guzman said among the climate actions the cooperative sector could do are the following: promote and mainstream sustainable food production operations and practices; provide early warnings on impending natural hazards; raise awareness on climate change adaptation and mitigation practices (CCAM); provide finance to local mitigation and adaptation projects; and serve as the voice of climate justice during local participatory budgeting and decision making processes.   “Given your proximity to rural communities and your unique capacity to instill the value of climate action within your group, cooperatives could play a key role in ensuring rapid and effective response to climate change on the ground,” De Guzman said.   The Commission, he said, is in the process of finding the 100 best adaptation practices nationwide which will be showcased in the CCC’s upcoming events.   “Our goal is to inspire other local government units to implement their own adaptation initiatives. If you are a part of an organization working on innovative, transformative local practices for adaptation, please do not hesitate to share your story with us and to the nation,” De Guzman said.  

MANILA, PHILIPPINES  1 February 2019 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) joins the global call for stronger climate action for healthier wetlands in celebration of the World Wetlands Day on February 2. “Due to the increasing prevalence of climate change and human activities, our wetland areas and its quality continue to decline, disrupting their natural water flow and biodiversity therein,” said CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman. February 2 also marks the anniversary of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance or the Ramsar Convention in Ramsar, Iran. With this year’s theme, “Wetlands and Climate Change,” De Guzman urges government agencies and stakeholders to initiate fast and efficient climate action to preserve the ecological balance of our wetlands which play a crucial role in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and mitigation. De Guzman said it is important to implement strictly our environmental laws to uphold the integrity of our wetlands and the ecosystem. “Together, let us take pride and lead the global effort to protect wetland areas for us and the future generations to come,” De Guzman said.

Senator Loren Legarda today met with Ms. Christiana Figueres, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and currently the Convenor of Mission 2020, to discuss ways how to further unlock investments to scale up clean and renewable energy development in the country and the world. Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience and UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, shared that transitioning towards a low carbon economy remains a challenge, but the potential economic returns, as well as the advantages in reducing climate and disaster risks, will be massive. “I’m proud to champion the policies and laws in place for us to transition towards a low carbon and sustainable path, but I agree, the challenge really is to operationalize these, and at the same time, to mobilize resources and innovation from the private sector and business community,” Legarda stressed. Legarda said that Figueres is in the Philippines to discuss opportunities with public and private sector leaders for accelerating the transition towards a lower-emissions Asian economy and creating space for governments to enhance their commitments under the Paris Agreement, in preparation for the UN Secretary-General’s Summit in September 2019. Legarda also noted that it was during Figueres’ term as UNFCCC Executive Secretary that the historic Paris Agreement was signed. She recalled Figueres’ visit to the Philippines to witness the launch of the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change in Malacañang and to visit Yolanda-hit towns in Eastern Samar in 2015. “The Philippines is among the many developing countries that emit less than 1% of the total global GHG. There is no debate that we did not cause climate change, but we must take it upon ourselves not to contribute further to this crisis. We must set targets to keep global temperature rise to 1.5°C by reducing global GHG emissions by 45% of 2010 levels by 2030 and to zero by mid-century,” Legarda concluded.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES 23 January 2019 – The Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation and Disaster Risk Reduction lauds the National Economic & Development Authority (NEDA) Declaration on Climate Change during its meeting held at SEAMEO Innotech, Diliman, Quezon City. NEDA commits the agency to green its systems and practices and, at the same time, to track down its carbon footprint. The NEDA Management Committee Officials, in its Declaration “reaffirm their commitment to conserve our environment and natural resources and address climate change, and call upon all NEDAns to take proactive role in adopting and implementing concrete actions toward greening NEDA’s systems and process which will contribute in reducing NEDA’s carbon footprint.” Moreover, it also authorizes the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Staff (ANRES) “to spearhead the implementation of progressive measures that would result in the achievement of their objectives.” “The NEDA Declaration on Climate Change provides a framework that will guide and enable NEDA to implement bold and concrete actions that are geared toward addressing climate change and ensuring the protection and conservation of our environment and natural resources,” Socio-Economic Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said. As presented during the meeting, the NEDA Climate Change Strategy is composed of four components: 1. The first component is the development and dissemination of a video on climate change and the adoption of the NEDA Declaration on Climate Change. 2. The second component is the mainstreaming of sustainable consumption and practices in NEDA’s internal processes such as water and energy conservation, efficient use of resources, phase-down of plastics, waste reduction and recycling, and greening of the workplace. 3. The third component is the introduction as well as the adoption of alternative transport service schemes like ride-sharing and point-to-point shuttle service. 4. The fourth and the last component is the monitoring and assessment of the effectiveness of its climate change mitigation initiatives by measuring and tracking their carbon dioxide emissions reduction and changes in behavior as the same time setting-up of a reward system to incentivize good practice. Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman of the Climate Change Commission, together with Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, presided the first cabinet cluster meeting for the year. They led in congratulating NEDA on its efforts to recognize the policy of the State to afford full protection and advancement of the right of people to a healthy ecology to fulfill human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment for current and future generations as mandated by RA 9729, otherwise known as the Climate Change Act of 2009, as amended by RA 10174. In emulating NEDA, the cabinet cluster passed a resolution encouraging the member-agencies to address climate change and to take a proactive role in adopting and implementing concrete actions that will contribute in reducing our country’s carbon footprint.

KATOWICE, POLAND 20 December 2018 – Over 20,000 delegates from 195 countries, including the Philippines, adopted over the weekend a set of guidelines for implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement meant to guide efforts for global climate action. After two weeks of negotiations, the so-called ‘Paris Rulebook’ was adopted by all member countries at the 24th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 24). The set of guidelines covered technical details of the Paris Agreement, including setting up of new finance goals of US$100 billion a year by 2020 as well as on how countries provide information about countries’ climate actions, mitigation and adaptation measures. 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 Paris Agreement is set to come into effect in 2020. With the adoption of the ‘rulebook’ on how to tackle climate change, Climate Change Commission Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman, however said that more work needs to be done by all countries. He also recognized the hard work and extraordinary leadership that Poland have exemplified to bring COP24 to its conclusion. The Philippines, he said, reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and engaged in all climate talks while protecting its key interests, including climate justice. “For the work we cannot finish in our time, we shall pass on to our younger colleagues. After all, climate change is an intergenerational challenge that requires the passing of the baton of responsibility from one generation to another,” de Guzman said. Countries are expected to re-submit or update their climate pledges known as “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) in 2020. The Philippines is set to submit its Nationally Determined Contributions next year after it has completed its ground work with all local stakeholders – both with the national government agencies and the non-state actors. Secretary De Guzman further said the Philippines will continue to champion the following concerns of developing countries: finance are delivered, including for technology development, transfer and diffusion, and capacity-building; developed countries have clear programmes for delivery; clarity and acceptability of the time frame of the programmes to enable developing countries like the Philippines to build their national capacities to avoid future generation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and to survive the intensifying impacts of climate change through anticipatory adaptation. In the closing hour of the conference, Secretary de Guzman, on behalf of the entire Filipino nation, conveyed its appreciation to the COP Presidency and the Parties for the recognition they have shown on the untimely demise of Bernaditas de Castro-Muller. Ms de Castro-Muller is a veteran negotiator representing the Group of 77 and China and was dubbed as the “dragon lady” of climate negotiations. “Beyond her institutional legacy, she lives on in the hearts and minds of the younger colleagues she had taught and inspired. With the passing of Ditas, the Philippines lost a dear colleague; the developing countries lost a champion of their cause; and the world lost a great citizen. May the passion and commitment we saw in Ditas inspire us and those who will come after us to carry on the work in the climate negotiation process,” de Guzman added.

KATOWICE, POLAND 15 December 2018 – Curbing air pollution and improving public health can drive broader climate action, Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman of the Climate Change Commission said during the 10th High Level Assembly of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) here during the two-week United Nations climate change conference. Secretary De Guzman, who leads the Philippine delegation to the climate talks and, at the same time, a member of the Steering Committee of the CCAC, lauded the Action Programme of the CCAC presented at the high-level assembly calling for “enhanced ambition to rapidly reduce short-lived climate pollutants and to ensure that mitigation efforts are integrated in order to address air pollution and climate change.” The Action Programme also recognizes that action taken in the next decade is crucial if the world is to achieve the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature goal. CCAC is a partnership of 61 governments, 17 intergovernmental organizations, 54 non-government organizations including businesses and scientific institutions. Short-lived climate pollutants such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons and tropospheric ozone, have powerful effect on global temperatures. “We join the Coalition on these climate actions that could avoid an estimated 2.4 million premature deaths from outdoor air pollution annually by 2030, prevent annual crop losses by as much as 52 million tons, avoid global warming by as much as 0.6°C by 2050,” Secretary De Guzman said citing the newly-released report of the World Health Organization in Katowice during the climate talks. The WHO report singles out two short-lived climate pollutants with greatest impact on climate change and health, black carbon and methane. He said that climate change should be seen as “an urgent public health issue” as it pose a major health threat to people due to worsening air pollution and illnesses indicated in the WHO report. Secretary De Guzman added that the Action Programme could prevent climate tipping points that exacerbate long-term climate impacts and make climate change adaptation harder and sustainable development more elusive, especially for the poor and vulnerable nations like the Philippines. “Philippines stands strongly committed to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs),” Secretary De Guzman said, adding that Philippines supports the CCAC and the collective global actions that could reduce methane emissions by 25 percent and black carbon by 75 percent, as well as to eliminate hydrofluorocarbons in the next 25 years. Secretary De Guzman said the Philippines have included reducing SLCPs in the national planning process as well as in our system for measurement, reporting and validation (MRV) for carbon emissions. The Philippines, he said, will continue to strive to improve air quality with the full implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 with a goal to achieve and maintain air quality that meets the national air quality guidelines for criteria pollutants and their emissions standards. He further said Philippines has step up efforts in adopting the Euro 6 fuel and vehicle standards and the rapid deployment of electric vehicles; maximizing energy efficiency as countries phasedown HFCs, as well as a systems approach to cooling and heating; enhancing mitigation measures for emissions from agriculture; shifting to renewable energy to meet the demands and contribution to the global effort of limiting global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius. “We shall scale up our climate actions in all sectors, through a whole-of-society-and-government approach. This we shall pursue with a robust strategy for climate financing, technology development and transfer, and capacity building. We shall fast-track these climate actions through the support of our development partners,” De Guzman said.

KATOWICE, POLAND 15 December 2018 – The Philippines made an impassionate appeal to world leaders to “demonstrate climate action and leadership” as the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) climate conference in Katowice is going into its decisive second week. “Climate action and leadership resolve must be demonstrated by all. Now is the time for leadership, not cowardice,” said Climate Change Commission (CCC) Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman. “There is no excuse for inaction among the world’s most powerful nations.” Secretary De Guzman delivered this strong message at the launch of the “Jummemej Declaration” of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) event on which calls on COP 24 to take key decisions on ambitious outcome in Katowice. At COP 24, governments from 196 nations are struggling to complete the complex details needed to implement the ‘rulebook’ or work program to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, as well as to heed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming and the ‘Talanoa’ Dialogue by recommending revised and enhanced climate change plans or the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2020. The Philippines is among countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels, prolonged droughts floods and changes in rainfall patterns. “It is our moral duty to be clear about where we stand. We are in Poland in the name of the children of tomorrow whose interests we must secure, compelled by science and duty,” said Secretary De Guzman, also the head of the Philippine delegation to the United Nations climate talks. “The success of these talks will determine countless lives and existence. The choices leaders weigh here spell the difference between annihilation and hope that we may live far into the future with requisite happiness, peace, and security.” Developing countries and small island states also pointed out to welcome and respect the IPCC special report on 1.5 degrees Celsius, saying that the only way to keep average global temperatures from rising above 1.5C by the end of the century is to phase out the use of fossil fuels by 2050. The Philippines is highly regarded in the negotiation process at the climate talks as a leader of developing countries. 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. “Enough of politics. Believe science. No to extinction of the vulnerable,” Secretary De Guzman said. “The success of these talks will determine countless lives and existence. The choices leaders weigh here spell the difference between annihilation and hope that we may live far into the future with requisite happiness, peace, and security.” In 2013, the Philippines experienced the onslaught of Super Typhoon Haiyan that wiped out homes, killed more than 7,000 lives, displacing more than 4 million people and destroyed infrastructure and agricultural lands leaving those who survived homeless and without any source of income. Damages reached almost US$5 billion. “We find ourselves again in this familiar stage, brought to this precipice by indecision and indifference. How can we, the world’s most vulnerable, find the courage to act both for 2020 and for tomorrow?” Secretary De Guzman said, adding that “small, low-lying countries have “contributed next to nothing, yet we suffer the brunt”. However, Secretary De Guzman said the Philippines is “making a stand and giving all” it can on climate action, saying that a resilient low carbon future is the only pathway that will secure inclusive, enduring development for all. “Indecision and weakness in the face of the greatest peril humanity has ever faced is nothing less than immoral. Enough of indifference and inaction. The decades of apathy and procrastination must end here in Katowice,” he stressed. Secretary De Guzman said, “now is the time to call out countries that do not stand with us. Instead of condemning our nations and the Earth to a future menaced by runaway climate change, we ask you to stand for the good. Stand for the people.”

KATOWICE, POLAND 14 December 2018 – Climate Change Commission (CCC) Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman on Wednesday, December 13, relayed the Philippines’ strong call for “urgent and ambitious action in the context of climate justice” at the high-level segment of the 24th Conference of Parties (COP 24) under the United Nations Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) happening here. Secretary De Guzman, who heads the country’s delegation to the climate talks, appealed to world leaders to ramp up climate action efforts and “exhibit leadership and deliver on commitments” to counter climate change. The two-week conference in Katowice aims to gather countries to agree a rule book on how to enforce action to limit further warming of the planet under the 2015 Paris Agreement. “We must heed the call for urgent and ambitious action in the context of climate justice, Secretary De Guzman said. “We must believe science. The decades of inaction and delay must end here in Katowice. Changing together for a resilient future should start here and now.” The Secretary said that the best available science “mandates us to deliver on our commitments, with utmost urgency and equity.” Any attempt to backslide on commitments or rewrite the Convention and its Paris Agreement should be rejected. A key report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in October released a stark warning to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid the worst impacts of climate change such as the increasing risk to drought, flood, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. World leaders have only 12 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 45% of 2010 levels if they want to limit global warming to 1.5C. Secretary De Guzman stressed that together with the Climate Vulnerable Forum nations, the IPCC Special Report on 1.5C “affirms the Philippine advocacy and moral resolve” to achieve the 1.5C goal set in the Paris Agreement. “Ensuring environmental integrity is critically important. To this end, we need to establish a transparent, real time global accounting system for climate actions supported by “state of the art technology,” he said. “The gravity of the climate change problem obliges us to pursue the 1.5 climate ambition together.” The Philippines, he said, is prepared to leapfrog to more affordable, scalable solutions from renewable energy sources to achieve a more resilient economy. “We are ready to leapfrog to a green economy. But first and foremost, our people must survive to thrive,” Secretary De Guzman said. Secretary De Guzman enumerated the Philippines has taken to fight climate change, saying that the Philippines national laws are “unequivocal in mainstreaming adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the national and local development plans, programs, and budgets.” He talked about pioneering in climate change legislation with the Climate Change Act of 2009, and the country’s domestic climate finance, the establishment of the People’s Survival Fund for local adaptation measures, the legislation of renewable energy law and a Green Job Act. To date, the country is formulating the energy efficiency and conservation law and a national transport policy. The Philippines, he said, is resolved to pursue a low-carbon development pathway although we emit only less than half of one percent of the global emissions, essentially “survival emissions.”