Adaptation action is more urgent than ever

THE Philippines is considered a pioneer in climate change and disaster risk reduction management policies, with the enactment of the Climate Change Act of 2009, People’s Survival Fund Law, Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and the Green Jobs Act of 2016, among others.

The Climate Change Commission, the government’s sole policy- making body tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and actions plans related to climate change, has led the development of the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), which outlines the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation agenda from 2011 to 2028.

The NCCAP’s ultimate goal is to build the adaptive capacities of women and men in their communities, increase the resilience of the vulnerable sectors and natural ecosystems to climate change, and optimize mitigation opportunities toward gender- responsive and rights-based sustainable development, categorized in seven thematic priority areas:

Food security

The Philippines, being highly vulnerable to climate change risks and natural hazards, has to seriously address risks to food security. Action toward building a food-secure society amid the changing climate will need to address some underlying drivers such as poverty and sustainable livelihoods, human and institutional capacities, and advancement in scientific knowledge on climate change risks and adaptation technologies in the food production sector.

Water sufficiency

Climate change exacerbates water crisis. Climate projections of wetter climate during the wet season and drier climate during the dry season will mostly affect stream flow, dam operations and water allocation, domestic water supply, irrigation, hydro power generation, water Quality and fisheries.

Changes in water supply due to the changing climate will also affect the food and human security and the economy if water governance and adaptive measures are not robust enough to cope with the risks and impacts of climate change.

Ecological and environmental stability

With climate change, we expect adverse impacts on our ecosystems. While ecosystems have the inherent capacity to resist and adapt, climate change coupled with destructive human activities put tremendous pressures on it.

Human security

Security concerns associated with climate change include the potential for conflict over natural resources, population displacement and migration as the result of sea-level rise or other large-scale biophysical, ecological or social disruptions and the prospect of increasingly frequent and intense humanitarian disasters as the result of extreme climate events.

Climate-smart industries and services

The long- term goal is the sustainable transition toward green growth by developing climatesmart industries and services. To be done in partnership with the private sector, creating green jobs, and sustainable livelihoods especially in the rural areas and promoting climate-smart and sustainable cities and municipalities.

Sustainable energy

The Philippines is facing a formidable challenge of developing sustainable clean energy to support the requirements of economic and social development with minimal adverse effects on the environment due to its dependence on coal over the past decades.

The country should continue to pursue the mainstreaming of the following renewable energy sources: geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, wave, biomass and solar power.

Knowledge and capacity development

Climate change is a complex issue and in order to effectively address the issue, it is important to have knowledge about it.

Having knowledge and understanding on the science, issues and risks, as well as appropriate capacity to address the issue of the changing climate are critical components to build resilient communities and ecosystems.

Since the adoption of the post2015 global development frameworks — the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Paris Agreement on Climate Change — our national and local plans should be aligned with the goals and targets of these global frameworks.

10 easy-to- do adaptation solutions

Adapting to climate change should be a complementary action to disaster risk management in order to reduce the risks and impact of additional hazards brought by extreme climate events.

Based on a study of the Asian Development Bank on the economics of climate change, the Philippines stands to lose 6 percent of its gross development product ( GDP) annually by 2100; however, investing 0.5 percent of the country’s GDP by 2020 in climate change adaptation will avert losses by as much as 4 percent.

The opportunity to avert loss and damage from climate change impacts through increased investments in adaptation must be seized.

Here are 10 easy- to- do, noregrets adaptation solutions that can be pursued with the NCCAP priority.

First, for water sufficiency, rainwater harvesting could be a sustainable solution given the country’s current water supply problem. It is among the basic solutions we need to provide water for waterless barangays and to reduce our dependence on groundwater extraction.

Second, community food gardens and edible landscapes. From a socio- economic perspective, these gardens and landscapes build trust in the community, facilitate participation, and address food security, which are all vital components of effective adaptation to climate change.

Third, on the priority area of human security, providing roadside ditches makes a good strategy for mitigating floods and preventing flood disasters triggered by highly intense rainfalls.

Fourth, championing energy efficiency and harnessing solar and other renewable energy to electrify homes, schools, barangay halls and public places are steps forward toward our goal of sustainable energy.

Fifth, to achieve ecological and environmental stability, single- use plastics should be avoided. Reducing wastes to zero, recycling and reusing, as well as composting should be promoted at household and community levels to reduce dependence on landfills that generated methane, a potent climate destabilizing greenhouse gas and to promote the use of organic fertilizers and organic farming.

Sixth, in promoting further ecological and environmental stability planting bamboo will not only sequester carbon, but will also protect slopes to prevent landslides and provide a wide range of livelihood applications.

Seventh, mangroves and sea grass will protect coastal ecosystems and communities.

Eighth, the establishment of climate field schools to provide in- depth training and skills development will not only help farmers bolster the resilience of their livelihood, but will also improve food production.

Ninth, the timely communication of early warning on impending natural hazards to communities must also be institutionalized. Local governments are crucial in ensuring that early warning systems will reach the “last mile” and in ensuring early action at the household and community level.

Tenth, strengthening humanitarian preparedness, emergency response, and contingency planning will not only save lives, but will also enable us to build back from the cascading impact of extreme weather events.

All these local climate adaptation solutions, when implemented properly, shall not only accelerate the implementation of the NCCAP, but will readily build the resilience of our communities to climate and disaster risks.

The author is the executive director Forum. He completed his climate change and development course at the University of East Anglia (United Kingdom) and executive program on sustainability leadership On February 8, he will be there source speaker on the seminar on An gK alika san Change and Its Impact son Our Community at the Mary Mother of Divine Grace Proposed Chaplaincy, Santo Padre Pio Parish, Para na que City. He can be emailed atludwig.federigan@gmail.com.