Policies that protect: How plans and strategic actions drive climate solutions

The environment is more than just a backdrop to our daily lives — it is the very foundation of life. It is where we live, breathe, grow food, and build communities. At its core lies ecosystems: networks of living organisms and nonliving elements that support and sustain one another.

Ecosystems are not separate from the environment. Rather, they are its building blocks, and the well-being of the latter is inextricably linked to the health of these ecosystems.

Our ecosystems feed us, protect us, and sustain our livelihoods. They provide food through plants, animals and marine resources. They offer jobs, particularly for rural and indigenous communities that live in close harmony with nature. They also serve as natural defenses against climate hazards: coastal mangroves reduce storm surge impacts, forests absorb carbon dioxide, and wetlands mitigate floods. In short, healthy ecosystems are the foundation of a sustainable economy and a resilient society.

But this foundation is under threat. Deforestation, habitat loss, land degradation and climate change continue to break down our natural systems. As greenhouse gas emissions rise, we lose more of our planet’s natural carbon sinks. Forests are cleared faster than they can regenerate, while too much carbon dioxide leads to ocean acidification and loss of marine biodiversity. When ecosystems collapse, so do the benefits they provide, jeopardizing food security, public health, biodiversity and economic stability.

This crisis underscores the urgency of protecting our ecosystems and accelerating climate action. Climate impacts are time-sensitive and compounding, requiring immediate and coordinated solutions. We must respond with comprehensive, inclusive, and science-based policies that protect our ecosystems and build our resilience.

Effective policies provide structure and direction to our ecological efforts. Science-driven and evidence-based, they ensure that actions are not only effective but also efficient. These policies help identify the most at-risk sectors, guide investments in adaptation and mitigation, and inform decisions that impact future generations.

The Philippine government has advanced policies such as the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP). The NAP, developed under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., provides a framework for addressing sectoral vulnerabilities and integrating adaptation strategies into national development.

The NDCIP, on the other hand, outlines our roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving our climate targets by 2030.

These frameworks were developed by the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the country’s lead policy-making body on climate change, in cooperation with other government agencies, the private sector, development partners, academe, civil society organizations and local government units.

The CCC ensures that national and local plans align with climate priorities, providing technical assistance, policy guidance, and capacity-building support to national agencies and local government units (LGUs).

Other key tools include the National Climate Change Action Plan and Local Climate Change Action Plans, both of which serve as key instruments in turning policies into on-the-ground action. Through these plans, local governments and community leaders can identify their vulnerabilities, craft tailored adaptation strategies, and strengthen their resilience against climate-related risks.

For instance, Senior Fire Officer 3 Daisy Leal-Cabauatan of Nueva Vizcaya, who leads disaster response efforts, implements the Kalikasan Warriors initiative in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection, LGUs, and communities. Through tree planting and cleanup drives, this initiative aims to strengthen resilience in the community.

In Manila, Christian John Evangelista, an astronomer-meteorologist in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, pioneered the Manila Project — Multi-hazard Analysis of Nature’s Information for Localized Risk Analysis. Using geographic information systems, he developed a public web-based application to support risk assessment and disaster preparedness planning.

On the legislative front, Senator Loren Legarda, a long-time champion of environmental protection, has authored key laws that serve as the foundation for climate action. These include the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003); the People’s Survival Fund Act (RA 10174), a financial mechanism for adaptation projects; and the Climate Change Act (RA 9729), which created the Climate Change Commission. The declaration of June as Philippine Environment Month through Proclamation No. 237 further demonstrates how policy can elevate public awareness and inspire nationwide action.

However, even the best policies are not enough without public participation. A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is essential. The private sector, civil society organizations, academic institutions and individuals all have a role in amplifying and supporting climate action. While policies set the direction, participation fuels momentum. Only through collaboration can we transform plans into progress.

This Philippine Environment Month, let us recommit ourselves to protecting our ecosystems through sound policy and collective action. Every step we take must be rooted in science, guided by data, and supported by the right policies. Let us sustain the ecosystems that sustain us, and work together to build a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable Philippines.