The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Tuesday said the leaders of the Philippine delegation discussed the country's climate change adaptation and mitigation plans, outlining the ambition and commitment in the forthcoming National Adaptation Plan and Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan at the Philippine Pavilion of the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the largest global climate summit to date.

Government representatives also discussed with key partners funding, resource generation, and capability-building programs that are being made available to advance the NAP and NDCIP.

The high-level panel discussion entitled, "Turning the Tide: The Philippines' Journey to Climate Resilience," was hosted on December 2 by the DENR and the Climate Change Commission, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the Government of the United Kingdom.

DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, Head of the Philippine Delegation to COP28, highlighted the progress made to advance key features of the NAP and NDCIP, as well as plans to drive implementation.

"The Philippines' NAP charts a clear and strategic adaptation based on climate analytics, adaptation needs, and the critical enablers, multilateral funding sources, and private capital required for successful implementation. It also defines sectoral needs with specific recommended actions for agriculture, fisheries, and food security; water resources; energy, transport, and communications; health; ecosystems and biodiversity; cultural heritage, population displacement, and migration; land-use and human settlements; and livelihoods and industries. While the NAP outlines specific adaptation priorities within these sectors, it emphasizes their interdependence and interconnection," Loyzaga said.

While the NAP lays down the imperatives and priority areas, the NDCIP sets a roadmap that identifies actions for implementing mitigation actions and guides long-term economic and investment planning.

"The NDCIP enumerates the various policies and measures across five key sectors: energy, transport, industry, agriculture, and waste. These initiatives set the Philippines on a low-carbon development pathway consistent with its national priorities of poverty reduction, energy security, sustainable development, and climate justice," she added.

The high-level panel included representatives from civil society, development partners, and the private sector for a solution-oriented discussion to identify the best approaches and linkages to implement concrete projects, programs, and activities. The discussion centered on how the NAP and NDCIP can be strong enablers for targeted deployment of funding and support towards the country's climate ambitions. The panelists also shared the programs existing, underway, and ready to be deployed within their institutions to deliver said support to the country.

CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera, for her part, noted that the NAP aims to steadily reduce climate-related loss and damage as well as build the country's adaptive capacity towards transformative adaptation, resilience, and sustainable economic development by 2050. The national plan integrates climate adaptation into policies and incorporates strategies, including reinforcing infrastructure, addressing livelihood vulnerabilities, and leveraging nature-based solutions.

"Inclusivity must follow, where the NAP implementation must leave no one behind, fostering collaborative climate actions that will reach the last mile," said Commissioner Herrera.

On the other hand, DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh said the Philippine NDCIP catalyzes climate mitigation across agencies including the DENR, the CCC, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Finance. It also outlines the summary of actions and the risk to delivery for sectors working toward the plan.

Members of the working group for the NAP and NDCIP include CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje; Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum, Jr; Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno; and National Economic and Development Authority Director-General Arsenio Balisacan.

COP28, hosted by the Government of the United Arab Emirates, is the annual climate change negotiations within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Philippine Pavilion at COP28 is set to host 29 more side events, led by various national government agencies and key partners such as the Asian Development Bank, Forest Foundation of the Philippines, and the United Nations Development Programme. The side events showcase and facilitate discussions regarding the scalable climate solutions underway in the country, centered around protecting its rich biodiversity, building resilient communities, and pursuing low-carbon economic development.