As we approach the middle of 2022, the world inches closer to the agreed upon deadline for the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the international treaty pledging the cooperation of 196 countries towards tackling the threat of artificially-induced global warming.
As one of the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, the Philippines should spare no effort in transitioning the country towards an adaptable, carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable society. Furthermore, eleven chapters in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 involve climate-related policies and measures. These promote climate-resilient infrastructure, energy-efficient technologies, forest rehabilitation, and improved health services for disaster and climate-related illnesses.
The government identified the Philippines’ top climate-induced risks as rising sea level, coastal erosion, flooding, increasing frequency and severity of tropical cyclones, extreme drought, temperature increase and rising urban heat index, extreme rainfall, climate-influenced diseases, wind patterns and biodiversity loss.
Moreover, he added that he considers the present time until 2030 “critical”, noting this period is an opportunity to undertake low-carbon and resilient development as well as other climate action that will ensure Earth’s well-being “before it’s too late.” In the conference, the CCC revealed that various local projects worth an estimated P310 million have already been supported through the government’s People’s Survival Fund, a fund created in 2012 to help local government units and accredited community organizations implement climate change adaptation projects in the country.