A new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made the urgency for effective climate action by all levels of government and other stakeholders even more pressing, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
IPCC, the world’s official body for assessment of climate change, recently released its Synthesis Report confirming that humans are unequivocally increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to record levels; and unless immediate actions are taken, losses and damages will continue to increase into the future, putting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems at risk.
The synthesis report was finalized by the IPCC during its 58th Session held in Interlaken, Switzerland from March 13 to 17.
The Philippine Delegation to the IPCC plenary session was composed of DENR Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne S. Herrera, and IPCC Contributing Author for the Working Group I of the Sixth Assessment Report Dr. Faye Abigail T. Cruz, head of the Regional Climate Systems Laboratory of the Manila Observatory.
“Every fraction of a degree counts and we are in no position to waste time. The Synthesis Report will be crucial in shaping evidence-informed decisions and actions, particularly for developing and vulnerable countries,” Rebuelta-Teh said in a statement she delivered on behalf of the Philippine Delegation.
The latest IPCC report highlighted the need to accelerate climate action and adaptation measures. To limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the report stated that deep, rapid, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be required across all sectors.
“We reiterate the call for flexible and accessible means of implementation for adaptation, through climate finance, technologies, and country-driven technical assistance that reflects the need for local, context-specific and demand driven adaptation to address each country’s specific risk profile,” Rebuelta-Teh said.
In its intervention during the week-long plenary session, the Philippine Delegation strongly supported the inclusion of emissions avoidance in the report as a recognition of risk-based and outcomes-based approaches to curb GHG emissions with the use of best available non-GHG emitting technologies.
The Philippines also supported the inclusion of green and blue infrastructure, which help reduce risks from extreme weather events. #
