Two relatively new and evolving bills on the Rights of Nature and Loss and Damage are currently tackled with various sectors.
Cong. Edgar Chatto bared this in a message of support that he delivered at the opening of the 15th Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week on Monday, November 21, 2022 at Novotel, Quezon City.
”I am pleased to report that consultations with different sectors are ongoing. We want the laws relevant and enforceable,” he said.
Chatto, who chairs the House Committee on Climate Change, reported that the panel takes to heart the urgency and gravity of the impact of climate change.
It can be remembered that in the previous Congress, the bills about the first national declaration of climate emergency and a measure on loss and damage, which seek reparation for adverse effects of climate change especially to vulnerable sectors were passed.
The issue on providing reparation to vulnerable countries to climate change was also placed In the agenda in the recent Conference of the Parties (COP27).
Moreover, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary and Official Representative of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Climate Change Commission (CCC) Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga cited that the P453.11 billion budget for climate change adaptation is included in next year’s General Appropriations Act. This is a 56.39% increase in funding compared to 2022’s allocation of P289.73 billion.
“More investments are still needed if we are to make transformative strides to achieve climate-resilient development. The coming years will present more opportunities to show how the whole-of-society effort can shape the future of our country,” Loyzaga said.
The opening ceremony of the CCC Week 2022 took place at Novotel Manila. The Climate Investment Forum 2022 immediately followed the ceremony which brought together various stakeholders to identify strategies in achieving the Philippine Nationally Determined Contribution targets, priority actions on climate finance, and opportunities for climate action.
CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje along with British Ambassador Laure Beaufils, New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kells, World Bank Country Director for the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei Dr. Ndiame Diop and United Nations Development Plan Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran, and CCC Commissioners Rachel Anne Herrera and Albert dela Cruz also graced the event.
With the theme “Sama-samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima”, CCC Week 2022 drew together various climate change and environment stakeholders in the Philippines in a collective push towards transforming climate change commitments into action towards a climate-smart and climate-resilient Philippines by 2050.