Climate Change Commissioner Albert dela Cruz

MANILA — In the pursuit of stringent carbon policies aligned with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, Climate Change Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz Sr. is championing a vulnerability assessment-based approach for a 75 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors from 2020 to 2030.

At the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, Dela Cruz commended Quezon City for earning recognition from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of the world’s top 119 cities in effective climate action.

The city’s A-list status is attributed to environmental data disclosed through its Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan (ELCCAP).

As the portfolio holder for GHG emissions and carbon trading at the Climate Change Commission (CCC), Dela Cruz emphasizes the urgency of involving vulnerable communities in the Philippines in climate initiatives.

He underscores the need for a nationwide emissions inventory and a climate action plan grounded in risk and vulnerability assessments, aligning with adaptation goals for addressing climate hazards.

Dela Cruz notes the absence of explicit carbon pricing in the Philippines and highlights that fuel excise taxes implicitly cover 52.4 percent of emissions.

Recognizing the climate emergency, he commended legislators for supporting essential legislation to allocate resources for climate action.

In response to last year’s approximately 146.5 million tons of CO2 emissions from energy consumption, the government revised its target to achieve a minimum 75 percent reduction by 2030, reinforcing its commitment to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Dela Cruz’s advocacy centers on creating a livable, green, sustainable, and climate-resilient future, emphasizing the significance of including vulnerable communities in the nation’s climate initiatives.

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President Bongbong Marcos congratulates Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz Sr. of the Commission on Climate Change (left) following the presentation of his latest book, “Climate Innovation” (second edition), to the Chief Executive in Malacañang Palace. Also in the photo is Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. (middle) of the Department of Interior and Local Government. (Photo courtesy of Yummie Dingding/Malacañang)

MANILA — As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) prepares to kick off in Expo City, Dubai, Climate Change Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz Sr. is rallying Filipinos to actively engage in addressing the far-reaching impacts of climate change.

Emphasizing the need for a collective effort, Dela Cruz encourages citizens to take part in implementing mitigation and adaptation measures, steering the Philippines towards self-sufficiency and resilience against the adverse effects of this global phenomenon.

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Romualdez Marcos Jr. has echoed this call to action, urging citizens to support the government’s initiatives aimed at combating climate change.

Central to these efforts is the administration’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 75 percent by 2030.

In a video message during the 16th Annual Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week, President Marcos emphasized the pivotal roles of both citizens and the government in environmental preservation, stressing the importance of fostering the ‘bayanihan’ spirit to unite the nation in addressing climate change and global warming.

“We all have a role to play in this mission. So we must work together, take a stance in support of our planet. Let us be involved in creating solutions to mitigate the effects of global warming and climate change,” President Marcos Jr. pointed out.

Commissioner Dela Cruz, before his departure to Dubai, visited President Marcos Jr. at the Malacañan Palace.

During the meeting, he presented the second edition of his book “Climate Innovation” as a testament to his commitment to supporting the Marcos administration’s climate action plan, aiming to bolster the Philippines’ resiliency and self-sufficiency.

Dela Cruz highlighted the escalating impact of global warming and climate change, evident in the frequency of extreme weather conditions and other devastating events.

“Rising sea levels causing flooding, increasing temperatures, extreme weather events, and the decline in biodiversity remind us of the urgency to respond swiftly to this immediate environmental concern. I reiterate our beloved President’s call to unite our people so that we may become a more resilient and adaptable nation,” he underscored.

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Climate activists and progressive organizations expressed their disapproval of the Marcos administration’s handling of the dual challenges of rising food and climate crises in the nation as they gathered in front of the Department of Agriculture along Elliptical Road in Diliman, Quezon City on Thursday, October 19, 2023.

According to the demonstrators, the primary cause of food insecurity in the country is climate change, which has led to increasingly severe weather events.

The escalating cost of food is a significant contributor to the nation’s soaring inflation rate, with rice, in particular, recording a staggering 17.9% inflation rate in the previous month.

(Report and photo by Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

PULSE Asia revealed on Monday that less than 50 percent of Filipino adults know enough about climate change.

According to poll findings, 44 percent of Filipino people believe that they are well aware of climate change, while 40 percent believe they have little information.

“From June 2022 to September 2023, there is an increase in the percentage of Filipinos with enough knowledge about climate change (+10 percentage points) while the reverse occurs in terms of those with little knowledge (-6 percentage points),” the survey said.

About 48 percent of Filipinos in Metro Manila said they have sufficient knowledge about climate change while 41 percent said they only have a little knowledge.

“The only exception is the Visayas, where a small majority of adult residents (56%) claim to have sufficient knowledge. Meanwhile, 11% of adults say they have wide knowledge about climate change while 5% have almost/completely no knowledge,” it said.

According to the United Nations (UN), climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.

The UN furthered that humans are responsible for global warming, adding that the effects of climate change include intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms, and declining biodiversity.

“The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil, and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions,” the UN said on its website.

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Climate change activists initiated a protest march on Friday from Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, and Mendiola in Manila to Liwasang Bonifacio, as they assailed the United States government for its alleged failure to provide enough “Climate Finance.”

The protest came in the wake of United States President Joe Biden’s recent meeting with leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum. Biden has accordingly acknowledged the concerns raised by these leaders regarding the devastating impact of climate change on their regions. He reassured them of the United States’ commitment to assisting them in addressing this pressing challenge.

Images show members of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and various other groups proudly displaying their banners as they marched from Mendiola to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)