Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced over the weekend that the city has been recognized by the global non-profit organization CDP as one of the 119 leading cities in the world that serves as a trailblazer in developing effective climate action, despite global economic challenges.

From over 900 cities assessed by CDP, QC has emerged as one of the A-List cities based on environmental data disclosed to CDP-ICLEI. 

Belmonte said QC has a city-wide emissions inventory and has published a climate action plan. The city has also completed a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and has a climate adaptation goal tackling how to address climate hazards. 

Belmonte's political commitment and leadership also play a huge part in why QC became an A-List city.

"We are truly honored to be part of the A-List cities of CDP. The city's climate initiatives are all anchored in our Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan that is made possible with the help of C40 Cities and other stakeholders to ensure that it is inclusive and responsive to the needs of our citizens," Belmonte said.

"There are many vulnerable people in our city and we must bring the people with us as we gear towards a livable, green, sustainable and climate-resilient future," the Mayor added.

Last month, Belmonte was also hailed a Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership, the first Filipino elected official to receive one of the United Nations' highest environmental honors.

Greenhouse gas

A city-wide Greenhouse Gas  inventory was conducted using 2016 data, establishing the baseline for QC's emission reduction goals and initiatives. This serves as the foundation of the City for developing targeted strategies and climate action plans across various sectors.

In 2019, the Quezon City Council passed City Resolution No. SP-7999 which declared a climate emergency and provided vital supporting legislation to allocate resources for climate action. With this, the city was able to allocate up to 13 percent of its annual budget to climate change mitigation and adaptation programs and projects.

The city has also implemented various efforts to control waste and plastic generation, such as the Trash to Cashback program, Vote to Tote, and the enactment of landmark ordinances such as the Plastic Bag Ban (City Ordinance 2868-2019), and prohibition of distribution of single-use plastics and disposable materials for dining-in customers in restaurants and hotels (City Ordinance 2876-2019).