ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEM ANALYSIS

APPLICATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

STRATEGY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND
MITIGATION IN THE PHILIPPINES

_____________________________________________________________________
BY

GERALD GUMERA AGUILAR

Master of Environmental Science

In Fulfillment of the Mid-term Examination of

ESA 821 under the supervision of Prof. Đặng Văn Minh

Thai Nguyen, April 2022

 CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION ……………………………………………………….. 3
II. LITERATURE REVIEW ………………………………………………... 4
III. PHILIPPINE RESPONSE IN ADDRESSING
CLIMATE CHANGE ……………………………………………………. 5
3.1. Climate Change Act of 2009 …………………………………….... 5
3.2. Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (1997) …………….. 5
3.3. Philippine Clear Air Act (1999) …………………………………... 5
3.4. Biofuels Act of 2006 ……………………………………………… 5
3.5. Renewable Energy Act of 2008 …………………………………... 6
IV. PROPOSE APPLICATION ON ENVIRONMETAL
STRATEGY FOR THE ADAPTATION AND
MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE ……………………………….. 6
4.1. Agriculture Sector ………………………………………………... 6
4.1.1. Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy ……….... 6
4.2. Biodiversity Sector ……………………………………………….. 7
4.2.1. Biodiversity Strategy ……………………………………… 7
V. CONCLUSION …………………………………………………………... 8
VI. REFERENCES …………………………………………………………… 9

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I. INTRODUCTION

The Philippines is widely regarded as one of Asia's most vulnerable countries

to climate change. It is frequently affected by severe storms, has seasons where
temperatures are already high enough to limit labor productivity, and has
extensive areas that are vulnerable to the effects of sea level rise. For these
reasons, strong action to limit climate change is in the best interests of the
country in the long run (Zhongming et al., 2017).

The Philippines is particularly vulnerable to the effects of unabated climate

change. Agriculture employs over 30% of the labor force, and the country is
frequently affected by weather-related natural disasters. The country is
vulnerable to storm surges and sea level rise because it is an archipelago with
over 7,000 islands and 36,000 kilometers of coastline. According to the
Climate Change Vulnerability Index, the Philippines is the fourth most
climate-vulnerable country in the world in 2015. (Kreft et al. 2014)

Climate change threatens agricultural production in the Philippines. Rice is the

country's staple crop, accounting for the greatest proportion of national
production value of any agricultural product. In the Philippines, Peng et al.
(2004) discovered a 10% decrease in rice yield for every 1-degree Celsius
increase in night temperatures.

The Philippines has a hot tropical climate, and humidity-adjusted temperatures

already exceed thresholds for intensive labor during parts of the year. This is
expected to rise as a result of climate change, with 6 percent of labor man-days
potentially lost by 2050 due to excessive heat (Kjellstrom et al. 2015).

Further temperature rises in a hot climate may exceed attractive ranges for
tourist arrivals, negatively impacting tourism. Tourist arrivals may be reduced
by 12% by 2050, resulting in a loss of nearly 1% of gross domestic product
(GDP). When disaster risks, health and ecosystem losses, labor productivity
losses, and market impacts on agriculture, energy, and tourism are all taken
into account, GDP loss may exceed 3% by 2050. (Raitzer et al., 2015)

Climate change primarily affects agriculture through crop yields and irrigation
demands; forestry through changes in forest productivity and composition;
water resources through variability in water supply and quality; coastal areas
through erosion of beaches and inundation of coastal areas; species and natural
areas through shifts in ecological zones, loss of habitat and species; and health
(Rincon and Virtucio, 2008).

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 Thus, this paper aimed to outline the application on the development of
environmental strategy for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change in
the Philippines. Specifically, it focused on the response of the Philippines in
addressing the complex issue and proposing actions for agriculture and
biodiversity sectors of the country.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

Contemporary societies are confronted with a new spectre haunting the 'globe'
– climate change. Scientists did not believe this was possible until recently,
despite the fact that the theoretical concept of a "greenhouse effect" has been
well established for a century or so (Urry, 2015). Changes in the abundance of
greenhouse gases and aerosols in the atmosphere, solar radiation, and land
surface properties all affect the energy balance of the climate system. These
changes are expressed in terms of radiative forcing, which is used to compare
how a variety of human and natural factors influence global climate warming
or cooling (Change, I. P. O. C. (2007).

In general, when discussing climate, one is definitely interested in dynamic

meteorological variables, and there are some other variables that one is
definitely not interested in, such as those that describe the flora and fauna on
Earth in all of their complexities. Aside from this, there is a middle ground of
other variables, such as those describing glaciers and ice sheets, that may only
be included in the list of climate variables in specific contexts (Werndl, 2020).

To date, nations have pursued separate policies for environmental protection

and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Both efforts have fallen short of
the scale of action required to halt biodiversity loss or mitigate climate change
(Roberts et al., 2020). Climate change adds a new dimension to the question of
how much protected area coverage is required to ensure wild nature
conservation. Climate change is already reducing the size of wildlife
populations and forcing range shifts as conditions worsen (Pinsky et al., 2018;
Chen et al., 2011).

In 2009, the German government through a program called ‘Adaptation to

Climate Change and Conservation of the Biodiversity in the Philippines
(ACCBio)’ funded under the International Climate Protection Initiative of the
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear
Safety of Germany (BMU) and implemented by German Technical
Cooperation (GTZ) with Philippine government and civil society partners
formulated the Philippines strategy on climate change adaptation for the eight
sectors, namely, agriculture, biodiversity, coastal and marine, energy, forestry,
health, infrastructure, and water. The formulation of this strategy envisioned

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 linking poverty reduction and disaster management with climate variability and
to strengthen the resilience of communities, the environment, and the natural
ecosystem. However, there is a particular concern for protecting the population
segments that are most vulnerable to climate change.

III. THE PHILIPPINE RESPONSE IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE

Prior to the formation of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which
negotiated the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Philippines
was one of the first countries to establish a national committee to discuss and
develop positions on climate change (Merilo, 2008).

3.1. The Climate Change Act of 2009, also known as Republic Act 9729,
established the Climate Change Commission (CCC) within the
Executive Office of the President. The CCC is the primary climate
policymaking authority tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and
evaluating the government's climate change programs and action plans.
The CCC oversaw the development of the National Framework Strategy
on Climate Change and the National Climate Change Action Plan,
which will help the government manage climate risk and vulnerability,
as well as determine appropriate adaptation and mitigation measures for
the country. The Climate Change Act was amended in 2012 by Republic
Act 10174, which established the People's Survival Fund (PSF) to
provide long-term climate financing for climate adaptation initiatives of
local government units and people's organizations. The PSF was given
Php1 billion, which will be replenished on an annual basis.

3.2. Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (1997) establishes that

the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with other appropriate
agencies, should forecast and formulate appropriate agricultural and
fisheries programs by taking climate change, weather disturbances, and
annual productivity cycles into account (Aquino et al., 2013).

3.3. The Philippine Clear Air Act (1999) requires the DENR, in
collaboration with concerned agencies and local governments, to
develop and implement national plans in accordance with the UNFCCC
and other international agreements, conventions, and protocols on
reducing greenhouse emissions. Furthermore, it establishes that
meteorological factors affecting ozone depletion and GHG emissions
should be monitored and standards established.

3.4. The Biofuels Act of 2006 mandates and provides incentives for the use
of biofuels as well as the phase-out of harmful gasoline additives and/or

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 oxygenates in order to reduce toxic and greenhouse gas emissions,
among other things.

3.5. The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 establishes the legal and
institutional framework for coordinating policies relating to the
development of renewable energy technologies. The Act aims to help
the Philippines achieve its goal of becoming 60% energy self-sufficient
by 2010 by developing and utilizing resources such as solar, wind,
hydropower, ocean, and biomass energy.

IV. PROPOSE APPLICATION ON ENVIRONMETAL STRATEGY FOR

THE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Agriculture is built on biodiversity. Its upkeep is critical for the production of

food and other agricultural goods, as well as the benefits they provide to
humanity, such as food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. Biodiversity is the
source of the plants and animals that serve as the foundation of agriculture, as
well as the enormous variety found within each crop and livestock species.
Numerous other species contribute to the critical ecological functions on which
agriculture is based, such as soil services and water cycling (SECRETARIAT,
2008). Hence, agriculture and biodiversity are interconnected and the
adaptation and mitigation of climate change in these sectors are essential.

4.1. Agriculture Sector

The agriculture industry is extremely vulnerable to climate change.
Many plants and seasonal fruit trees are physiologically disturbed by
high temperatures and intermittent rains and drizzles, which disrupt
biological and plant production cycles and cause fruiting and harvesting
dates to shift. However, adaptation strategies are heavily influenced by
geographical and climate risk factors, as well as institutional, political,
and financial constraints. (FRAMEWORK, 2009). Below is one of the
strategies that could be adopted to sustain the production and other areas
in the agriculture sector.

4.1.1. Adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a strategy for guiding the
actions required to transform and reorient agricultural systems in
order to effectively support development and ensure food
security in a changing climate. CSA aims to achieve three major
goals: increasing agricultural productivity and income in a
sustainable manner; adapting to and building resilience to climate
change; and reducing/or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions

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 where possible. CSA is a method of developing agricultural
strategies to ensure long-term food security in the face of climate
change. It provides a means for stakeholders ranging from the
local to the national and international levels to identify
agricultural strategies appropriate for local conditions. It is one of
the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO's) 11 Corporate
Areas for Resource Mobilization. It is consistent with FAO's
vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture and contributes to
FAO's goal of increasing the productivity and sustainability of
agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Through this, the Philippines
is attempting to modernize and strengthen its agriculture sector,
with both the government and private companies encouraging the
use of advanced technology and smart farming methods to
increase harvests and reduce losses (Perlas, 2020).

4.2. Biodiversity Sector

At the moment, the country's rich biodiversity resources are under threat
from forest clearing and agricultural encroachment, mining, rapid and
widespread settlement and urban development, water and air pollution,
destructive fishing methods, and other environmentally unsound
economic and physical development (FRAMEWORK, 2009).

The Philippines is recognized as one of the world's biologically richest

countries. The country's terrestrial and marine habitats contain some of
the richest biodiversity of flora and fauna, with 7,100 islands within its
borders. The Philippines is also at the center of the Coral Triangle,
which is the world's center for marine biodiversity. Despite its
ecological wealth, the Philippines is one of the top ten countries in the
world in terms of the number of species threatened with extinction (CI,
2014).

In the Philippines, there are five main pressures of biodiversity loss.

These are invasive alien species (IAS), habitat loss, climate change,
pollution, and overexploitation (BMB-DENR, 2016). Thus, these must
be addressed through the following strategy.

4.2.1. Biodiversity Strategy

Congruent to the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action
Plan 2015 – 2028 of the Biodiversity Management Bureau,
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2016), these
are the proposed interventions: restoration of ecosystem
functions; promotion of biodiversity-friendly livelihoods; and
strengthening of law enforcement. Also, capacity development

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 for biodiversity management, biodiversity conservation-related
research, strengthening policy for biodiversity conservation,
promotion of biodiversity-friendly technologies, and resource
mobilization must be part of the program as enabling or
supporting interventions.

V. CONCLUSION

Climate change is a complex issue in the world and the Philippines is one of
the top countries that is being affected by this. Primarily, the agriculture and
biodiversity sectors are the most vulnerable in terms of the impacts brought by
climate change. Although, the Philippines is one of the first countries to
establish a national committee to discuss and develop positions on climate
change. Along with it, to maximize their effectiveness, climate change
adaptation and mitigation policies should be developed integrally and this
country has clear policies regarding this however, its implementation must be
strengthened to address the issues, especially the effects of climate change.

In terms of Climate-smart agriculture, it is not a specific technology. It is a set

of practices or a new agricultural system that can be applied universally. It is a
strategy for creating the technical, policy, and investment conditions needed to
achieve sustainable agricultural development for food security in the face of
climate change; a method for guiding the necessary changes in agricultural
systems, given the need to address both food security and climate change. It is
necessary to conduct site-specific assessments to identify appropriate
agricultural technologies and practices (World Bank, FAO, and IFAD, 2015).

Biodiversity both promotes and benefits sustainable agriculture. Sustainable

agriculture conserves water, land, and nutrients while providing long-term
economic and social benefits. The barriers to its widespread adoption must be
removed. Biodiversity conservation is a complex subject matter that will be
implemented by a variety of stakeholders with varying levels of understanding
and commitment to biodiversity conservation. To compete for decision-maker's
attention, continuing education and communication strategies must be
proactively integrated into decision-making processes.

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