2010 National Framework Strategy on Climate Change

PGMA approves RP's National Framework Strategy on Climate Change
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY (PND) --- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has approved
here Wednesday a landmark policy that would become the blueprint of the
country's action plan to combat climate change.

The President signed the National Framework Strategy and Program on Climate
Change, which is perhaps the first in Southeast Asia, around a month early than
what is set by the Climate Change Act (Republic Act 9729) and while climate
negotiators worldwide gear up for fresh rounds of talks in June to achieve a
legally binding agreement to aggressively confront climate change and its
impacts to the human race.

The 12-year National Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change was
drafted by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) with the help of and in
consultations with various stakeholders of the society. The CCC, chaired by the
President, was created under R.A. 9729.

The National Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change was approved by
President Arroyo before CCC Vice Chairman Secretary Heherson T. Alvarez and
Commissioners Mary Ann Lucille Sering and Naderev Sano, Usec. Carlos Garcia VI,
as well as members of its advisory board composed of Cabinet Secretaries.

According to Alvarez, the Framework aims to turn the Philippines into a
climate-resilient country through climate change mitigation and adaptation
strategies.

It also envisions a country with "healthy, safe, prosperous and self-reliant
communities, and thriving and productive ecosystems."

"The Framework highlights the critical aspect of Climate Change adaptation,
which will be applied to all levels of governance—from city to municipal down to
the barangay level," Alvarez said.

"The aspiration is to build the adaptive capacity of communities in the country,
increase the resilience of our natural ecosystems to climate change, and
optimize the country's mitigation opportunities towards sustainable
development," Alvarez added.

The CCC noted that the Framework is formulated within the context of the
country's sustainable development goals and governance/institutional factors
that affect the country's ability to respond to climate change. It recognized
that the changing climate conditions will have a myriad of impacts and
underscore the vulnerabilities in all sectors of society and the economy.

The CCC said that the country's adaptation to climate change will require
resources and the cooperation of all sectors.

"Addressing climate change, therefore, moves beyond the environmental challenges
and will have to be closely linked with economic targets and social
sustainability," the Framework mentioned.

The Framework provides a basis for the national program on climate change,
defining Key Result Areas (KRAs) to be pursued in key climate-sensitive sectors
in addressing the adverse effects of climate change both under adaptation and
mitigation strategies.

It is based on the fundamental principles of sustainable development and treats
mitigation as a function of adaptation, mindful of the vulnerability of key
sectors that include energy.

The 38-page Framework said that increasing temperatures, changing rainfall
patterns, sea level rise, and extreme weather events form the backdrop upon
which the Philippines endeavors to pursue its development goals. It pointed out
that these factors affect key sectors such as ecosystems, food, water, human
health, infrastructure, energy, and human society.

It likewise noted that the ability of the country to address such impacts and
vulnerabilities of these sectors affect the facility by which sustainable
development is pursued.

Sustainable development, on the other hand, greatly impinges on the capacity of
the country to adapt to the impacts and address vulnerabilities to climate
change, it added.

Thus, in order to achieve the KRAs, the Framework emphasized that it is
important to ensure that cross-cutting strategies are likewise given attention.
And as means of implementation, the Framework puts forward multi-stakeholder
partnerships, financing, valuation, and policy planning and mainstreaming.

Alvarez said that with President Arroyo's approval of the National Framework
Strategy and Program on Climate Change, the CCC is preparing to launch a
nationwide information and education campaign to bring closer the issue of
climate change to the people.

He said that the caravan across the country is seen to make possible the
eventual formulation of the National Climate Change Action Plan.