The Quezon City local government announced on Saturday, Dec. 2, that the city was named by the non-profit organization CDP as one of the 119 cities in the world that served as trailblazers in developing initiatives that address the climate crisis.

The city government said that in the following assessment conducted by the CDP of over 900 cities, Quezon City was cited as one of the cities on its "A-List."

The A-List recognizes cities that have received the highest score for their transparency and bold climate action, and celebrates their achievements, vision, and commitment in the fight against climate change, according to cdp.net.

To be included on the A-List, A city must disclose publicly through the CDP- International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Track; have a city-wide emissions inventory; and have published a climate action plan.

CDP also said that an A-list city must  complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment (CRVA) and have a climate adaptation goal to demonstrate how it will adapt to climate hazards.

"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," Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

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

According to the local government, a city-wide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory was conducted using 2016 data, which established the baseline for QC's emission reduction goals and initiatives.

It said that the GHG inventory served as the city's foundation for developing targeted strategies and climate action plans across various sectors.

The city was also placed under a climate emergency in 2019 through City Resolution No. SP-7999 in 2019, which allowed the local government to allocate up to 13 percent of its annual budget to climate change mitigation and adaptation programs and projects.

The local government has also implemented programs to control waste and plastic generation including the Trash to Cashback program which allows residents to convert recyclable materials into environmental points that they can use to pay utility bills and groceries; the Vote to Tote program repurposes all campaign tarpauline to tote bags; 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).

In partnership with different companies and organizations, the city also initiated the "Kuha sa Tingi'' program that establishes refilling stations in sari-sari stores for the necessities usually sold in small single-use packaging or sachets such as liquid detergent, dishwashing liquid, fabric softener, and multi-purpose cleaner.

It also established a food surplus recovery program that aims to save unsold or excess food products that can be distributed to disadvantaged families.

Through the Grow QC program,  the city was also able to generate more than 18,000 good green jobs from more than 750 urban farms.

The program is a collective and multi-sectoral food security initiative that addresses food inefficiency that mostly affects vulnerable and disadvantaged families, the city government said.

It added that it also adopted a city-wide composting program that turns organic waste into soil conditioners while generating biogas which can be used for cooking. 

The city government has also developed an Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) which serves as a manual and basis of all programs and policies to ensure better air quality in the city.

"QC is also gearing towards transitioning to energy-efficient transportation for its city buses, including other city-operated vehicles under fleet management. A comprehensive study was also conducted to ensure that the transition will be economically sustainable for all," it said.

It added that rainwater harvesting systems were also installed in schools that can be used for their toilets, irrigation, and other domestic uses. 

The local government also has  decarbonization efforts to have clean, reliable, and sustainable energy sources such as the solarization of city-owned facilities, schools, and hospitals

It is also drafting a comprehensive Green Building Ordinance to promote sustainability and green practices among private entities.

“We recognize how every sector of our city plays a huge role in confronting the climate crisis, from our residents up to the private entities. The city cannot attain this accolade without their utmost help and support to our initiatives,” Belmonte said.

In October 2023,  Belmonte was also named a "Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership" by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  for leading the city in implementing programs for climate change and environmental protection.

CDP supports thousands of companies, cities, states, and regions to measure and manage their risks and opportunities on climate change, water security, and deforestation.