Status Quo: Climate Change and the Philippines
August 22 2017
The Paris Agreement
Introduction
On 12 December 2015, 196 Parties to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) adopted the Paris
Agreement, a new legally-binding framework for an
internationally coordinated effort to tackle climate change.
The Agreement represents the culmination of six years of
international climate change negotiations under the auspices of
the UNFCCC, and was reached under intense international
pressure to avoid a repeat failure of the Copenhagen
conference in 2009.
Highlights from Paris Agreement
The Paris Agreement contains:
An ambitious collective goal to hold warming well
below 2 degrees with efforts to limit warming to 1.5
degrees;
An aim for greenhouse gas emissions to peak as
soon as possible, and to achieve net-zero emissions
in the second half of this century;
A requirement for mitigation measures of individual
countries to
be expressed in nationally determined contributions
(NDCs);
A process that demands a revision of NDCs at least
every 5- years representing progression beyond the
last NDCs;
A mechanism for countries to achieve NDCs jointly,
sharing mitigation targets, and a mechanism for
countries to cooperate in achieving NDCs. Countries
can meet their NDC targets by transferring mitigation
outcomes internationally either in the context of
emission trading, or to allow results-based payments;
A mechanism for private and public entities to support
sustainable development projects that generate
transferrable emission reductions;
A framework for enhanced transparency and an
expert review of NDCs;
A Global Stocktake from 2023 and every 5 years
thereafter to review progress;
Encouragement for Parties to implement existing
frameworks for REDD+ including through the
provision of results-based payments;
A global goal of enhancing adaptive capacity,
strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to
climate change, and commitment to providing
enhanced support for adaptation;
A decision to adopt the Warsaw International
Mechanism for Loss and Damage, noting that the
agreement does not involve or provide a basis for any
liability or compensation;
A commitment to a collective goal of providing USD
100 billion per year to 2025, and beyond 2025 with
USD 100 billion as a floor. Developing countries are
encouraged to provide voluntary support. Public funds
will play a significant role in finance, and developed
countries must report twice a year on levels of support
provided;
An enhanced transparency framework for action and
support with built-in flexibility which takes into account
Parties different capacities with the goal to
understand climate change action in the light of the
objective of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreements;
A non-punitive compliance mechanism that is expert
based and facilitative in nature.
Form of the Agreement
The Paris Agreement was adopted as part of a decision of the
Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC. Together
with the Paris Agreement, the COP also adopted a decision
that guides pre-2020 action and sets out implementation
details for the Paris Agreement before its entry into force (the
Decision). The Paris Agreement establishes the main
framework for cooperative action on climate change beyond
2020 and will replace the Kyoto Protocol. The Agreement is a
treaty as a matter of international law, which means that
ratifying countries will be bound to one another by its terms
when it comes into effect. The Decision accompanying the
Paris Agreement has a number of complementary functions:
I. It provides the framework under which the Paris
Agreement is adopted;
II. It contains guidance on pre-2020 climate action;
III. It regulates and organizes action that needs to be
taken before the Paris Agreement enters into force
but is relevant for the implementation of the
Agreement (e.g. the formulation of guidance and
modalities for the Agreement); and
IV. It contains detail and guidance on how to develop
and formulate NDCs.
The Overall Goal
The Paris Agreement aims to hold global temperatures well
below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to
limit the temperature increase to 1.5C (Art. 2.1.(a)). This goes
beyond what had been agreed in Copenhagen and confirmed
in Cancn, namely to recognize the the scientific view that the
increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees
Celsius (2/CP.15, para 1).
Adapting to Climate Change
The Paris Agreement creates a global goal on adaptation that
had been absent from previous UNFCCC agreements, aiming
to enhance adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and
reducing vulnerability to climate change (Art. 7.1). The
Agreement determines that countries should put more
emphasis on adaptation planning, and based on this planning
Parties should strengthen their cooperation, including through
the transfer of funds (Art. 7). The adequacy of action and
support will be reviewed as part of the global stocktake.
REPUBLIC ACT 9729 - AN ACT MAINSTREAMING
CLIMATE CHANGE INTO GOVERNMENT POLICY
FORMULATIONS, ESTABLISHING THE FRAMEWORK
STRATEGY AND PROGRAM ON CLIMATE CHANGE,
CREATING FOR THIS PURPOSE THE CLIMATE CHANGE
COMMISSION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Statement of Policy
It is the policy of the State to afford full protection and
the advancement of the right of the people to a
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature. In this light, the State has adopted
the Philippine Agenda 21 framework which espouses
sustainable development, to fulfill human needs while
maintaining the quality of the natural environment for
current and future generations.
Definition of Terms
Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or
human systems in response to actual or expected
climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm
or exploits beneficial opportunities.
Anthropogenic causes refer to causes resulting
from human activities or produced by human beings.
Climate Change refers to a change in climate that
can be identified by changes in the mean and/or
variability of its properties and that persists for an
extended period typically decades or longer, whether
due to natural variability or as a result of human
activity.
Climate Variability refers to the variations in the
average state and in other statistics of the climate on
all temporal and spatial scales beyond that of
individual weather events.
 Status Quo: Climate Change and the Philippines
August 22 2017
Climate Risk refers to the product of climate and
related hazards working over the vulnerability of
human and natural ecosystems.
Disaster refers to a serious disruption of the
functioning of a community or a society involving
widespread human, material, economic or
environmental losses and impacts which exceed the
ability of the affected community or society to cope
using its own resources.
Disaster risk reduction refers to the concept and
practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic
efforts to analyze and manage the causal factors of
disasters, including through reduced exposure to
hazards, lessened vulnerability of people and
property, wise management of land and the
environment, and improved preparedness for adverse
events.
Mitigation in the context of climate change, refers to
human intervention to address anthropogenic
emissions by sources and removals by sinks of all
GHG, including ozone depleting substances (ODS)
and their substitutes.
Vulnerability refers to the degree to which a system
is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse
effects of climate change, including climate variability
and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the
character, magnitude, and rate of climate change and
variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity,
and its adaptive capacity.
Composition
President of the Philippines as the Chairperson
Three (3) Commissioners to be appointed by the
President, one of whom shall serve as the Vice
Chairperson of the Commission
Advisory Board composed of different members from
the government departments. (See full article for
complete list)
Powers and Functions of the Commission
(a) Ensure the mainstreaming of climate change, in
synergy with disaster risk reduction, into the national,
sectoral and local development plans and programs;
(b) Coordinate and synchronize climate change
programs of national government agencies;
(c) Formulate a Framework Strategy on Climate
Change to serve as the basis for a program for
climate change planning, research and development,
extension, and monitoring of activities on climate
change;
(d) Exercise policy coordination to ensure th
attainment of goals set in the framework strategy and
program on climate change;
(e) Recommend legislation, policies, strategies,
programs on and appropriations for climate chang
adaptation and mitigation and other related activities;
(f) Recommend key development investments in
climate- sensitive sectors such as water resources,
agriculture, forestry, coastal and marine resources
health, and infrastructure to ensure the achievement
of national sustainable development goals;
(g) Create an enabling environment for the design of
relevant and appropriate risk sharing and risk-transfer
instruments;
(h) Create an enabling environment that shall promote
broader multi-stakeholder participation and integrate
climate change mitigation and adaptation;
(i) Formulate strategies on mitigating GHG and other
anthropogenic causes of climate change;
(j) Coordinate and establish a close partnership with
the National Disaster Coordinating Council in order to
increase efficiency and effectiveness in reducing the
peoples vulnerability to climate-related disasters;
(k) In coordination with the Department of Foreign
Affairs, represent the Philippines in the climate
change negotiations;
(l) Formulate and update guidelines for determining
vulnerability to climate change impacts and
adaptation assessments and facilitate the provision o
technical assistance for their implementation and
monitoring;
(m) Coordinate with local government units (LGUs)
and private entities to address vulnerability to climate
change impacts of regions, provinces, cities and
municipalities;
(n) Facilitate capacity building for local adaptation
planning, implementation and monitoring of climate
change initiatives in vulnerable communities and
areas;
(o) Promote and provide technical and financial
support to local research and development programs
and projects in vulnerable communities and areas;
and
(p) Oversee the dissemination of information on
climate change, local vulnerabilities and risks,
relevant laws and protocols and adaptation and
mitigation measures.
Components of the Framework Strategy and Program National
(a) National priorities;
(b) Impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments;
(c) Policy formulation;
(d) Compliance with international commitments;
(e) Research and development;
(f) Database development and management;
(g) Academic programs, capability building and
mainstreaming;
(h) Advocacy and information dissemination;
(i) Monitoring and evaluation; and
(j) Gender mainstreaming.
Climate Change Action Plan
(a) Assessment of the national impact of climate
change;
(b) The identification of the most vulnerable
communities/areas, including ecosystems to the
impacts of climate change, variability and extremes;
(c) The identification of differential impacts of climate
change on men, women and children;
(d) The assessment and management of risk and
vulnerability;
(e) The identification of GHG mitigation potentials;
and
(f) The identification of options, prioritization of
appropriate adaptation measures for joint projects of
national and local governments.
Local Climate Change Action Plan
The LGUs shall be the frontline agencies in the
formulation, planning and implementation of climate
change action plans in their respective areas,
consistent with the provisions of the Local
Government Code, the Framework, and the National
Climate Change Action Plan.
Barangays shall be directly involved with municipal
and city governments in prioritizing climate change
issues and in identifying and implementing best
practices and other solutions.
Municipal and city governments shall consider climate
change adaptation, as one of their regular functions.
Provincial governments shall provide technical
assistance, enforcement and information
management in support of municipal and city climate
change action plans.
Inter-local government unit collaboration shall be
maximized in the conduct of climate- related activities.
LGUs shall regularly update their respective action
plans to reflect changing social, economic, and
environmental conditions and emerging issues. The
LGUs shall furnish the Commission with copies of
their action plans and all subsequent amendments,
modifications and revisions thereof, within one (1)
month from their adoption.
The LGUs shall mobilize and allocate necessary
personnel, resources and logistics to effectively
implement their respective action plans.
The local chief executive shall appoint the person
responsible for the formulation and implementation of
the local action plan.
It shall be the responsibility of the national
government to extend technical and financial
assistance to LGUs for the accomplishment of their
Local Climate Change Action Plans.
The LGU is hereby expressly authorized to
appropriate and use the amount from its
 Status Quo: Climate Change and the Philippines
August 22 2017
Internal Revenue Allotment necessary to implement People are entitled to a healthy and productive life in
said local plan effectively, any provision in the Local harmony with nature.
Government Code to the contrary notwithstanding. Development today must not threaten the needs of
present and future generations.
Role of Government Agencies Nations have the right to exploit their own resources,
(a) The Department of Education (DepED) shall but without causing environmental damage beyond
integrate climate change into the primary and their borders.
secondary education curricula and/or subjects, such
Environmental protection shall constitute an integral
as, but not limited to, science, biology, sibika, history,
part of the development process.
including textbooks, primers and other educational
materials, basic climate change principles and Eradicating poverty and reducing disparities in living
concepts; standards in different parts of the world are essential
(b) The Department of the Interior and Local if we are to achieve sustainable development whilst
Government (DILG) and Local Government meeting the needs of the majority of the people.
Academy shall facilitate the development and Environmental issues are best handled with the
provision of a training program for LGUs in climate participation of all concerned citizens.
change. The training program shall include The polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of
socioeconomic, geophysical, policy, and other content pollution.
necessary to address the prevailing and forecasted Sustainable development requires better scientific
conditions and risks of particular LGUs. It shall understanding of the problems. Nations should share
likewise focus on women and children, especially in knowledge and technologies to achieve the goal of
the rural areas, since they are the most vulnerable; sustainability.
(c) The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) shall oversee the establishment Vienna Convention
and maintenance of a climate change information
management system and network, including on The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 gives
climate change risks, activities and investments, in a framework that governs diplomatic relations among
collaboration with other concerned national independent states in the world. A milestone in strengthening
government agencies, institutions and LGUs; interstate relationships
(d) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) shall
review international agreements related to climate
change and make the necessary recommendation for
ratification and compliance by the government on
matters pertaining thereto;
(e) The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall
disseminate information on climate change, local
vulnerabilities and risk, relevant laws and protocols
and adaptation and mitigation measures; and
(f) Government financial institutions, shall, any
provision in their respective charters to the contrary
notwithstanding, provide preferential financial
packages for climate change related projects. In
consultation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
(BSP), they shall, within thirty (30) days from the
effectivity of this Act, issue and promulgate the
implementing guidelines therefor.
The Commission shall evaluate, recommend the
approval of loans and monitor the use of said funds of
LGUs.

Coordination with Various Sectors

In the development and implementation of the

National Climate Change Action Plan, and the local
action plans, the Commission shall coordinate with
the nongovernment organizations (NGOs), civic
organizations, academe, peoples organizations, the
private and corporate sectors and other concerned
stakeholder groups.

The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

Introduction

The 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

defines the rights of the people to be involved in the
development of their economies, and the responsibilities of
human beings to safeguard the common environment.

The declaration builds upon the basic ideas concerning the

attitudes of individuals and nations towards the environment
and development, first identified at the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment (1972).

The Rio Declaration states that long term economic progress is

only ensured if it is linked with the protection of the
environment. If this is to be achieved, then nations must
establish a new global partnership involving governments, their
people and the key sectors of society. Together human society
must assemble international agreements that protect the global
environment with responsible development.

Principles in Relation to the Rio Convention