iCSC on Xinhua: "Prioritize adaptation and low carbon development"

RP needs to invest more in climate change adaptation
July 17, 2010 11:00 PM

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The Philippine government needs to put more funds in climate change adaptation given that the country is now reeling from the impact of a warmer planet.

Climate change is now here as evidenced by the intense dry spell that struck in the second quarter and typhoons Ketsana and Parma that swept most areas in Luzon, northern Philippines. These disasters damaged property and lives, reduced food production and dented economic growth.

This is why, advocates said, vulnerable sectors such as farmers and fisherfolks should be given the resources to cope with climate change.

"Our country needs to consider (climate change) adaptation as a priority," said Red Constantino, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), a non-profit organization working on sustainable energy solutions and fair climate policy.

"Adaptation should be declared as the national imperative. It is vital that new funds are mobilized and delivered to those least able to cope, such as small women shareholders in agriculture," said Marie Madamba-Nunez, climate campaign officer of advocacy group Oxfam Philippines.

The Philippines, by virtue of its geography, is prone to disasters. This southeast Asian country is located in both the typhoon belt and the so-called Pacific ring of fire - making the Philippines vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Climate change is increasing the country's disaster risk. While industrialized countries have been debating over carbon emission reduction targets, developing and disaster-prone countries like the Philippines are looking for ways on how to cope with the actual impact of climate change.

The Philippine government and the civil society have been implementing climate change adaptation measures. The agriculture department, for instance, introduced a rainwater harvesting technology or more known as small water impounding system (SWIP). SWIP is used to irrigate water during the dry season and control flood in the rainy months. Agriculture officials are also developing rice varieties resistant to drought and flooding. Non- governmental organizations are working with farmers to go into organic farming which can be productive without depending on too much inputs like water and fertilizer.

But there are still much to be done. And money - lots of it - is needed to sustain is resources are need to ensure that the Philippines can adapt to the impact of climate change.

Washington-based think tank World Resources Institute estimates that for adaptation projects, developing countries need $50 billion to $80 billion a year. Oxfam estimates that the Philippines alone needs to invest $1.25 billion a year for adaptation.

The ICSC and Oxfam launched early this month a report titled " Financing Adaptation or Funding Chaos," which is a comprehensive analysis of climate finance in the Philippines. The report cited a study by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) that showed only 46 percent of funds committed to climate change projects from 1992 to 2018 went to adaptation activities.

Most of the resources allocated for adaptation programs and projects also come in the form of loans. This, according to ICSC and Oxfam, is contrary to the official Philippine position, " which calls for climate finance to be channeled neither as aid nor charity but as compensatory funding in context and by design."

Oxfam and ICSC are calling on the government to create a creation of a National Adaptation Trust Fund. This will serve as a repository of all future and present climate-related overseas and domestic financing.

It's important for the Philippines not to rely on international assistance - whether in loans, grants or donations - for climate finance.

"Developing nations like the Philippines cannot afford to rely on the largesse of rich nations. Wealthy nations will continue to act out of short-term, national self-interest in the foreseeable future," the ICSC and Oxfam said.

"It is therefore urgent for the Philippines to undertake pragmatic but enduring measures which directly address the impacts of climate change on the country's economic, ecological and social sectors," they added.

Aside from realigning the budget, the two groups proposed that the government should tap locally-available public funds - including a portion of the gross international reserves and earnings from the government owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

"You can't have advocacy without financing," said Leonor Magtolis-Briones, convenor of the Alternative Budget Initiative (ABI), adding that that this should come in the form of public finance.

The ABI is a consortium of NGOs that lobby for higher allocation for health, agriculture and environment.

"Only the government can generate resources in a massive way," she said.

But more than just asking for financing, it's also important to take note of climate finance administration. Otherwise, all these money will just end up useless, or worse, lost to corruption.

"The lack of national climate action plans has made the Philippines vulnerable twice over and this needs to change," Constatino said.

The Philippines, for instance, is the only country in Southeast Asia with a dedicated agency on climate change. The Climate Change Commission, created last year, is chaired by the President and assisted by three commissioners.

But Constantino noted that the commission have "to be more pro- active in pushing for climate change agenda."

The problem is that the commission was primarily tasked to implement projects. Constantino said that the powers and responsibilities of this important body should be expanded to a climate knowledge hub and lead the setting of long-term, climate- resilient development agenda. It should also monitor the amount, mode and use of climate finance accessed from abroad and locally. #

Photo of structure damaged by Typhoon Reming in San Miguel Island, Albay by Reina/iCSC