LGUs compelled to act on climate change as global temperatures soar

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) appealed to local government units (LGUs) to work double-time in crafting their climate action plans, amid the soaring global temperatures that reached record highs this year.

Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman, CCC vice chairperson and executive director, said the need for local climate change action plans (LCCAP) has become even more urgent as higher global temperatures could trigger more droughts, intense storms and frequent floods.

LCCAP stipulates the policies and measures that an LGU will enact to increase the community's resilience to climate change.

It identifies the goals and basis of planning a project, along with actions to be implemented, funding source, responsibility and schedules.

De Guzman underscored the importance of integrating climate adaptation into the disaster risk reduction and management policies and plans of every LGU, "especially because we live in one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts."

"Our climate is warming at a faster rate than ever recorded. We cannot afford to ignore climate change and the most recent warming patterns because these may just be a taste of what's to come," De Guzman said.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), an agency under the United Nations, the earth is on track for its hottest year on record, with June marking the 14th straight month of record heat.

Citing two separate reports from the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the WMO said global temperatures from January to June shattered yet more records.

The average temperature in the first six months of 2016 was 1.3°C warmer than the pre-industrial era in the late 19th century, according to NASA.

NOAA said the global land and ocean average temperature for January–June was 1.05°C above the 20th century average, beating the record set in 2015 by 0.20°C.

"These data provide a cast-iron case for policymakers, especially those in the local governments, to prepare for climate disasters before they strike," De Guzman said.