Policy Institute www.laligapilipinas.org MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: SAINT ODES OF ITA Sj SIS = PANS AND SUD GEESean eC |.Background Why Adaptation? Adaptation, simply put is adjustment. It acknowledges the fact that we are already suffering the brunt of. climate change and must therefore do something about it, urgently. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recognizes that adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is vital in order to reduce the impacts of climate change that are happening now and increase resilience to future impacts, In December 2007 during the Conference of Parties (COP) 13 in Bali, Indonesia, the Bali Action Plan was adopted, which identified adaptation as one of the key building blocks required for a strengthened future response to climate change to enable the full, effective and sustained implementation of the UNFCCC through long-term cooperative action up to and beyond 2012 The Bali Action Plan states that international cooperation must be pursued "to support urgent implementation of adaptation actions, including through vulnerability assessments, prioritization of actions, financial needs assessments, capacity building and response strategies, integration of adaptation actions into sectoral and national planning, specific projects and programs, means to incentivize the implementation of adaptation actions, and other ways to enable climate-resilient development and reduce vulnerability of all Parties, taking into account the urgent and immediate needs of developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change". Three years later, in December 2010, the Cancun Adaptation Framework was established and aimed to enhance actions on adaptation, including through international cooperation and coherent consideration of matters relating to adaptation under the UNFCCC, The Cancun Adaptation Framework affirmed that adaptation actions must be undertaken urgently and should follow a country-driven, gender-sensitive, participatory and fully transparent approach. It should take into account vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems, and should be based onand guided by the best available science and, as appropriate, traditional and indigenous knowledge, with a view to integrating adaptation into relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions. The Philippines is not a major Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emitter. While there are, policies and programs already directed to transform to a low-carbon economy and while bulk of the available international climate financing is focused on mitigation, the reality is that there is not much to cut or mitigate in terms of GHG emissions. Unfortunately, our country is very much at risk to the Impacts of climate change and its multiplier effect to natural disasters.reefs are at risk, major cities are affected by sea level rise, there are negative agricultural changes, there are changes in ecosystems, there are impacts on fisheries, there is increasing frequency or intensity of cyclones and there are impacts on mountainous regions. Recently, the Philippines was ranked third (3rd) overall in the 2011 World Risk Report released by the United Nations Institute for Environment and Human Security. This report highlights the fact that our country’s coping and adaptive capacities remain low in order to address our exposure, vulnerability and susceptibility to natural disasters that are further aggravated by the impacts of severe climatic events caused by climate change, remain low.. Clearly, the Philippines urgently needs climate change adaptation in order to address the immediate impacts of climate change by enhancing the country's resiliency, as well as build our adaptive capacity to deliver more strategic effects. Adaptation initiatives Climate change adaptation initiatives are aimed at enhancing the country's resiliency to address the immediate risks as well as build the necessary adaptive capacities for more forward-looking actions that will address the impacts of climate change. These initiatives must be integrated and mainstreamed into policies, programs and budgets in both the national and local government levels. The participation, integration and support of stakeholders must also be ensured for an effective implementation of adaptation initiatives. Over the years, La Liga has focused on the following themes in its campaign for climate sensitive plans and budgets: 2. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) ~ involves a comprehensive, integrated and proactive approach to address the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of disasters and climate change. This promotes the involvement of the broadest possible sectors and stakeholders, with particular concern for vulnerable groups at the local level. 2. Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry++— involves the conservation, protection and rehabilitation of our ecosystems through sustainable natural resources management. These entail a shift from a purely resource utilization framework to a more sustainable manner where the carrying capacity of the environment is given due consideration. It gives premium to community-based or indigenous management of specific natural resource base. 3. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems while more popularly categorized as a mitigation initiative, renewable energy has in fact clear adaptation effects, Apart from emissions and pollution reduction, Renewable Energy (RE) systems, especially community-based and off-grid, provide a more sustainable energy alternative because of its much lower environmental and social impact than conventional sources of energy. RE systems also complement adaptation initiatives in contiguous resource base such as sustainable water, forest, land and coastal practices. ‘sana 2 i EAanendr Cathe Cr an dS Caras Tear Le Lain Ric errr ail a « =