The recent adoption of a Congress resolution urging the declaration of a climate emergency is a considered a "full recognition" of a panel of experts' call to shift from using the current term "climate change" to pursue immediate action against global warming, according to the Climate Change Commission (CCC).
House Resolution (HR) No. 1377 urged the declaration of a climate and environmental emergency, ensuring enhanced and coherent climate actions in the executive and legislative agenda of the government.
It was introduced by House Committee on Climate Change chairman Bohol Rep. Edgar Chatto; Deputy Speaker Antique Rep. Loren Legarda, the late Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar; Lanao del Sur Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong; Masbate Rep. Elisa Kho; Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong; Bayan Muna Rep. Eufemia Cullamat; and CWS Rep. Romeo Momo Sr.
HR No. 1377 gave full recognition to the CCC's National Panel of Technical Experts' (NPTE) call to shift from using the term climate change to climate emergency to pursue immediate action against global warming.
The NPTE, chaired by Dr. Carlos Primo David of the University of the Philippines National Institute of Geological Sciences, had recommended that "as one of the most climatically vulnerable countries in the world, the Philippines should mobilize its people, institutions, and resources to enhance its ability to prepare and even prosper amidst the climate emergency."
The House resolution pointed out that "in declaring a climate emergency, the government admits that global warming exists and that the measures taken up to this point are not enough to limit the changes brought by it."
"The decision stresses the need for the government and administration to devise measures that try and stop human-caused global warming," it added.
HR 1377 also mandates itself to encourage that climate urgency be placed at the center of all policy decision-making from local to national level, as well as encourage local governments to issue climate change declarations within their jurisdictions.
It also calls on the CCC to spearhead the collection and consolidation of relevant data with national government agencies as well as local government units, in collaboration with the NPTE, to come up with a climate risk assessment of the country, produce baseline studies that consider future scenarios and impacts of climate change, and perform sustainable development and resilient investment planning, programming, and financing on the national, sectoral, and local levels.
The resolution also calls on the major carbon emitters, locally and abroad, to take responsibility for climate change and to reinvest in renewable and sustainable energy; on local governments to adopt a "No to Coal" or "No to New Coal Policy" within their jurisdictions; and on local industries and local government units to pursue renewable and sustainable energy sources.
It also seeks the conduct of an audit of relevant national government agencies and local government units in relation to their compliance to existing environmental, climate, disaster risk reduction and management and appropriation laws, and international agreements in light of the climate and environmental emergency with the end in view of ensuring an enhanced national monitoring and evaluation system for the implementation of these laws and warranting the accountability of government officials, private entities, and other involved stakeholders.
The HR enjoins national government agencies to promote convergence of efforts toward strengthening data science, technology development, and research for climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the establishment of a national integrated risk information system and a national loss and damage registry, to support science-based policy formulation and risk governance on national and sub-national levels.
Earlier this year, the call for a nationwide declaration of climate emergency was also adopted by national government agencies in the Cabinet Cluster for Climate Change Adaptation, Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction, in recognition of HR No. 535 authored by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda.
In his previous State-of-the-Nation Addresses, President Duterte expressed in categorical terms that addressing climate change was a key focus of his administration and would continue to be a top priority.
During the 2020 United Nations General Assembly and the 37th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit, Duterte called on other vulnerable countries, along with the Philippines, to demand climate justice and urge developed nations to rapidly cut their carbon emissions which are the most responsible for fueling the climate crisis.
He also asked the international community to keep their commitments to the goals of the Paris Agreement.