CCC calls for speedy implementation of nat’l climate adaptation plans

FILE: Parched farmlands in Bulacan province on Tuesday (April 16, 2024). The dry season in the Philippines is hotter this year because of the El Niño phenomenon, which will likely persist until May. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) on Friday night underscored the need to ramp up the implementation of national plans geared towards building the country’s resilience amid the worsening climate change.

In a statement, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said the rapid increase in greenhouse gas emissions has spurred climate change, worsening its impact on food systems and other vital ecosystems.

“Our collective action is crucial to curb food insecurity and population displacement. Our heightened awareness and improved understanding of the nexus between climate change and health is critical to ensure Filipinos remain prepared and able to adapt,” Borje said.

CCC, together with other government agencies, has developed the draft National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP) – plans Borje said require “urgent implementation.

”

The NAP aims to reduce vulnerability to the impacts of climate change by building adaptive capacity and resilience, and facilitating the integration of climate change adaptation into policies and programs.

The NDCIP, on the other hand, outlines key actions, phasing, costs, and implementation arrangements for delivering the Philippines’ NDC under the identified policies and measures for transport, energy, waste, industry, and agriculture sectors.

Borje made the call following the rising heat index in the country, a phenomenon he said is also felt across the world.

Earlier, the World Meteorological Organization released the State of the Global Climate 2023 report, warning about the escalating global warming trend.

It confirmed that 2023 was the hottest year on record, with the global average near-surface temperature rising to 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

Borje said the Philippines continues to experience some of its warmest days, with the heat index almost reaching half the boiling point of water.

“The Climate Change Commission urges everyone from the government, private sector, the academe, and the youth to prepare for the impacts of global warming, including the heat waves and rising heat indices that we are currently experiencing,” he said.