Philippines, UNDP to implement landmark program on climate action
The Philippines is taking concrete action against climate change through a new program that will ensure climate change issues, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development are integrated in development plans and programs of the national and local governments.
The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed today a partnership agreement for the “National Convergence Programme on Reducing Climate & Disaster Risks for a more Resilient and Sustainable Philippines”.
The program, to be implemented by CCC with UNDP support, aims to increase national capacities to ensure that the Philippines achieves national climate change, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development targets set in the international agreements that the Philippines was a Party to in 2015.
The Philippines adopted the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, and the Agenda 2030 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Climate Change Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman “our Commission is facilitating the convergence of efforts of the government and all sectors and stakeholders to build the resilience of local communities in accordance with the post-2015 international frameworks. This convergence shall strengthen local risk governance, enhance rural livelihoods, and ensure ecosystems integrity. It shall also make the People’s Survival Fund accessible to local governments and people’s organizations for their community adaptation and resilience building programs.
UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Haoliang Xu, who is visiting Manila, said “Climate change and disaster risk reduction go hand-in-hand. The volatility and unpredictability of a changing climate threatens to increase both the frequency and severity of disasters. National and local capacities need to be strengthened to adapt to, or mitigate, the effects of climate change and to prepare for possible disaster scenarios.”
“We commend the Philippine Government for this innovative program on climate action. How government formulates policies and laws, develop budgets and translates this into effective support to vulnerable communities will play a critical role in reducing disaster and climate change risks.”
The new program will establish partnerships to increase awareness of disaster risks, enhance knowledge sharing and management, improve national and local competencies on disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development, and mainstream these in development plans. It will involve national government agencies, local government units, academe, civil society organizations, private sector and communities.
For more information, please contact:
Jaclyn Grey,
Communications Associate, UNDP Philippines
+63917 581 0495 || jaclyn.grey@undp.org
Amelia Supetran,
Team Leader, Inclusive and Sustainable Development Unit, UNDP Philippines
Amelia.Supetran@undp.org