Only recently we heard Greenpeace accusing major European gas and oil companies of doing nothing to transition towards cleaner energy and “just pretending” to be working towards their climate commitments.
Contrary to public perception, wind and solar power production by big oil companies is still surprisingly low, according to the Amsterdam-based environmentalist group.
The non-government organization was presenting, in the middle of a European heatwave, an analysis of a 110-page report written by German energy expert Steffen Bukold.
At home, the echoes from Greenpeace accusation were loud and clear, and many have wondered what the Philippine government has done and is doing.
Right from the hip, Congress passed in 2009 the Climate Change Act creating the CCC to develop policies and coordinate government programs on climate change.
The CCC in turn developed the National Climate Change Action Plan that serves as a road map for all climate change programs in the Philippines.
Within the Framework, the country developed a National Climate Change Action Plan that outlines a long-term program and strategies for climate change adaptation with the national development plan for 2011 to 2028.
It focused on seven thematic priority areas: food security; water sufficiency; ecosystem and environmental stability; human security; climate-smart industries and services; sustainable energy; as well as knowledge and capacity development.
What has been done in these areas?
We note the government’s commitment to climate change has been demonstrated by the increase in climate change expenditure.
Instance, for the fiscal year 2023, National Government Institutions have allocated P453.1 billion for adaptation and mitigation programs, representing a 56 percent increase from the previous year’s budget.
President Marcos’s commitment to sustainability and climate resilience is reflected in the Philippine Development Plan in which a whole-of-government approach has been welcomed by the CCC.
The PDP sets the goal for communities, institutions, and the natural and built environment to become more resilient to natural hazards and climate change impacts by 2028.
We rally behind the President for his declared commitment to address climate change, given that the vulnerability of this country of 114 million was underlined by its ranking as the first among 193 countries in the World Risk Index 2022.
President Marcos Jr. emphasized the urgency to handle the climate crisis, stating nature’s fury is already impacting communities and people.
We would like to see what is actually being done beyond the declared commitment.