The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirmed that its impacts are already occurring in every region across the globe, causing widespread damage to ecosystems and communities.

Such impacts will escalate with the continued increase in global warming, if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced by at least 43 percent by 2030 versus 2019 levels. Global warming is projected to hit the 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2035.

In the Philippines, among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, severe weather has become more frequent and catastrophic, with greater loss to life and property.

To raise awareness about the need to fast-track climate change mitigation and adaptation, the Climate Change Commission and Nestlé PH, with the support of the GMA Network, recently hosted the forum "CLIMACTION Towards A Net Zero Philippines."

The two-part forum was attended by government, business, agriculture and youth representatives, with talks by public and private sector leaders on implementing the Philippine National Adaptation Plan and the Nationally Determined Contribution for reducing GHGs.

As the world gears up for COP 28, the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Dubai, the local forum offered a crucial opportunity for discussions on climate action and collaboration in the country.

For companies participating in the event, understanding the PNAP and NDC would help ensure positive participation from the private sector, a key enabler in the race to net zero. For the youth sector, a design thinking workshop allowed participants to contribute ideas that will spur action.

Participants put together action plans toward developing a framework to help achieve identified NAP priority outcomes in agriculture, fisheries and food security; ecosystems and biodiversity; and stakeholder engagement, information, education, communications and advocacy to support the NDC Implementation Plan, with CCC as the lead government policy-making agency on climate change.

Businesses, in mitigating GHG emissions toward net zero, are responsible for aligning their climate and sustainability goals with the PNAP and NDC.

Agriculture is a sector that will be most affected by climate change due to its adverse impacts on food productivity, quality, quantity and where crops can be grown. Conversely, regenerative agriculture, which sequesters carbon, can play a significant role in mitigating climate change.

Meanwhile, young people have the most substantial stake in addressing climate change, as they will be left to deal with its impacts.

For its part, the GMA Network, the country's leading broadcast organization, is engaged in a continuing environmental advocacy with Nestlé PH to raise awareness about the country's plastic waste problem, while calling on people to reduce, reuse and recycle.