Envi, climate officials: Invest more in climate action

Top environment and climate officials urged stakeholders to invest more in climate action and work together to achieve climate-resilient development during the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week (CCC Week 2022) on Nov 21, 2022.

Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Official Representative of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in the Climate Change Commission (CCC), stressed the importance of investing in initiatives to pursue climate resilience.

Citing the record-high PHP453.11 billion for climate change adaptation and mitigation under the FY 2023 National Expenditure Program, a 56.39% increase to this year’s PhP289.73 billion, Loyzaga stressed the need for more investments to support the country’s climate-resilient development.

“More investments are still needed if we are to make transformative strides to achieve climate-resilient development. The coming years will present more opportunities to show how the whole-of-society effort can shape the future of our country,” Loyzaga said.

Senator Cynthia Villar, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, and Chairperson of the House Committee on Climate Change and Bohol 1^st District Representative Edgar Chatto also joined the activity.

In her recorded message, Villar remarked that the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, food security and on our communities are becoming even more pronounced, thereby needing serious and urgent attention from all.

“We should take climate change more seriously and urgently. We should rally all communities to institute appropriate strategies to (this) make environment climate-resilient and not to initiate activities that would aggravate the sufferings of the people,” said Villar. “Filipinos are called to do their parts to counter the ill effects of climate change,” she added.

Rep. Chatto highlighted the need to collectively strengthen the capacities of communities to reduce loss and damage.

“The vulnerability of our society is measured in three aspects: Susceptibility, Coping, and Adaptability. We may not control the natural events, but we need to strengthen our susceptibility measures, our coping mechanisms in minimizing damage, adaptation or our long-term strategies to anticipate changes to mitigate or avoid the adverse effects and impacts,” said Chatto.

The Opening Ceremony of the CCC Week 2022 took place in Novotel Manila. The Climate Investment Forum 2022 immediately followed the ceremony, which brought together various stakeholders to identify strategies in achieving the Philippine Nationally Determined Contribution targets, priority actions on climate finance, and opportunities for climate action.

“I wish to thank our partners from the national and local governments, the business sector, the private sector, the academe, and civil society for joining us in this mission. The Commission shall continue to bring everyone together to ensure a dynamic synergy as we pursue greener and more resilient pathways towards a sustainable future,” said CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje.

With the theme “Sama-samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima,” CCC Week 2022 draws together various climate change and environment stakeholders in the Philippines in a collective push towards transforming climate change commitments into action towards a climate-smart and climate-resilient Philippines by 2050.

Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 1667 s. 2008, the CCC spearheads the annual observance of the Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week every November 19th to 25th, aimed at raising consciousness on addressing the impacts of the changing climate.

For updates and live streams visit the CCC’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cccphl or its website at www.climate.gov.ph.