PH commits to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% 

Cong. Edgar Chatto (top photo) the chair of the House Committee on Climate Change presents a graph (lower photo) showing the direction of the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution illustrating the country’s reduced rate of greenhouse gas emission by 2030. The country is committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75%. Contributed photo

The Philippines commits to reduce its emission of greenhouse gases by 75% by 2030. 

This was bared in the report of Climate Change Commission (CCC) chairman Emmanuel De Guzman during the virtual committee meeting of the House Committee on Climate Change of the House of Representatives chaired by Cong. Edgar Chatto on Thursday, Feb.4, 2021.

The commitment represents the country’s greenhouse gas mitigation plan for the period spanning 2020 to 2030.

The commitment is referenced against a projected cumulative emission of 3,340.3 metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) for the same period, the report from the office of Cong. Chatto bares.

According to De Guzman, the ambitious commitment, which will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat, is the Philippines’ first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) in adherence to the Paris Agreement.

The said House panel earlier approved House Resolution 1494, a Resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives to urge the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to submit the Philippine Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) conveying the highest possible m plan against climate change reflecting the government’s strong commitment to contribute to global efforts to advance climate justice, and as part of the country’s commitment under the Paris agreement.

It is also a tangible move of solidarity with other climate change vulnerable countries in the world.

The said move is a show of commitment of the country to the global community’s resolve to address the climate emergency and to drive the country towards a sustainable pandemic recovery.

The consensus reached among lead government agencies and key stakeholders on the NDC goals emerged from continuing consultations. 

“This NDC ambition is higher than our Intended Nationally Determined Contribution or INDC of 2015. It has been advanced by the lead sectoral agencies of government, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Department of Energy (DOE), as well as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for the process of economic modeling,” De Guzman said.

According to the CCC, majority of the commitments are conditional or contingent on the support provided by the developed countries pursuant to the Paris agreement such as finance, technology transfer, and capacity building, in the context of climate justice.

Along with the lead sectoral agencies, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Office of Civil Defense (ODA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), welcomed the enhanced and more ambitious commitment under the NDC.

Aside from the national government, the CCC also gathered support from civil society organizations that have provided support throughout the NDC process.

Over the next two weeks, the CCC shall continue to meet with the sectoral stakeholders for the final draft of the NDC and its submission to Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, and to President Duterte, before it will be transmitted to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat.