LEGAZPI CITY– The Philippines, through the province of Albay, plans to put up the first ever research and operation center intended as a one-stop-shop for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCA-DRR) training institution.
The county’s first ever DRR research institution will go beyond disaster risk reduction training not only for disaster responders and public officials as it will train educators specifically farmers, fishermen including indigenous communities to laymanize science and the effects of climate change, Albay governor Joey Salceda told the Environews.
“We want to go beyond disaster risk reduction. Albay as designated as training institution for DRR as agreed upon with the Office of Civil Defense to train eight regions for disaster mitigation and adaptation measures. We want not only disaster responders and local officials to be trained but including our farmers, fishermen and indigenous communities for them to adapt the changing climate and comprehend science as the core and impetus of our mission,” Salceda said.
Salceda said that the existing two-storey Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office (Apsemo) building will be re-constructed as five-storey building through the build and operate (BOT) with the local counterpart from provincial government to house research institution and training centers and related studies on disaster risk reduction management, agriculture and education sectors.
Two years ago, the provincial government of Albay established the first ever Climate Change Academy within the compound of Bicol University of Legazpi aimed to bolster the government’s response and adaptation measures to mitigate the adverse impact of global warming that triggers climate change.
The academy will serve as think-thank and center for local and international academic studies and conferences. While the CCA-DRR training institution will go beyond disaster risk reduction management as it will train the grassroots.
“As center of training institution, we want not only the responders and local officials to be knowledgeable on disaster risk mitigation and adaptation measure including the sectors who feed the world like farmers and fishermen. We need to work together to help and lessen the world’s carbon emission,” Salceda said.
The Philippines contributes 0.31% of the aggregate carbon emissions or 159 mt CO2 in 2010. It is ranked 159th on GHG per capita basis versus 127th in income per capita. We are the 13th biggest population of 105 million (1.58% of total), GDP of $351bn or 40th largest in GDP (0.48% of total) and 41st in C02 (0.31% of total).
Philippines, most at risk country
Citing the World Risk Index study, Salceda said that Philippines marks as among the top 3 most at risk countries in the world to natural hazards since 2011. In 2014, it ranked 2nd because of urban exposure. The World Humanitarian Trend of 2014 reported that “the overall number of large-scale natural disasters has slowly decreased, but disasters associated with the effects of climate increased”.
In the report on World Humanitarian Trends and Trajectories to 2030, Philippines is on the top of the list. Disaster damages for the country is on the average 0.52% of the GDP 1990-2014 which represents an escalation from the 0.3% 1990-2009.
Like all developing countries, the Philippines contributes little to global emissions and bears even less responsibility for historical emissions, yet is among those that suffer the most but at the same time are the least able to cope with the increasingly adverse effects of climate change, Salceda said.
“Learning from our experience in Albay, this may be possible in a framework where a green economy nurtures a low-emission, inclusive and empowering, resilient and sustainable development. It is important to note, that communities across the country have shown the way forward by ensuring mangroves forests are protected and plantation is encouraged for the purpose of contributing to carbon capture and enhancement of forest carbon stocks while securing protection against powerful storm surges,” Salceda, UN senior global champion on climate change adaptation and UN climate fund advisor said.
Over the past seven years, forest cover has increased by 88 percent and mangrove forests almost quadrupled from 700 hectares to 2,400 hectares.
“Despite unremitting climate disruptions, we increased our rice production from 147,900 mt (2008) to 228,080 mt (2014) through proper use of water resources like irrigation. Many Filipino indigenous communities live to protect the sustainability of ecosystem services, equitable and sustainable use of resources while enhancing forest carbon stocks,” Salceda explained.
Surviving the climate challenge
“They who protect the environment should be given their rightful space of participating in the local economy and benefit from them,” the governor added. “We will, however, not deny the fact that the country will need help. We are striving to develop but challenged by hazards beyond our control. It is at this point that we see the value of solidarity. In the context of global climate action, climate financing is one of manifestation of such solidarity.”
Salceda added: “If we want to avoid the climate-related disaster risks of the future, investments in climate and disaster science that lead to understanding not only of the hazards and how they are formed but also of vulnerabilities and capacities of people, crops, infrastructure, and biodiversity to contribute to both adaptation and mitigation will be necessary under green economy framework.”
Surviving the next climate challenge requires a reduction of vulnerabilities as a pre-requisite for resilience, Salceda said. This means, he added, massive investment on infrastructure, industrialization, adaptive agriculture and safer settlements, only then will we, perhaps, earn the resilience.
Salceda said that mitigation is imperative because it is the only global response that would give time for people to adapt. “Adaptation actions alone, no matter how purposive and massive, will not stall the intensifying climate related hazards. GHG mitigation by a few countries will also not make a dent in the problem. That is why the Philippines will do its share in mitigation,” the green warrior governor pointed out.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) gives hope as the only climate fund for developing countries, Salceda said.
“The GCF is the core channel of financing for both adaptation and mitigation, and loss and damage, supported by development and transfer of technology and capacity-building in any Paris agreement as proposed by the developing country Parties of the UNFCCC. The current $10.3 billion is a first step towards the $100 billion annually by 2020 committed in Copenhagen,” he said.
The demands for survival and development that trigger policy action, according to Salceda, must inspire and usher in a new economy that considers development not only as growth in the economy but meaningful sustainable, inclusive, low-emitting and empowering development.
“Ours is not a plea for help rather a call to recognize the essential right of our people to life, environment, and development. This recognition must be at the heart of any climate financing initiative in the era of a new green economy. Any decision in Paris must consider that climate change is context specific and must therefore take into account realities such as ours,” Salceda told Environews.
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