A video on how local governments in the Philippines can take action against climate change.

*long version*

The video was produced by UN-HABITAT Philippines: [ Ссылка ], for the Department of Interior and Local Government – Local Government Academy. It was produced in the framework of the Vertical Integration and Learning for Low Emission Development (V-LED) project. To find out more about the V-LED project visit: [ Ссылка ]

The Philippines economic growth in recent years, mostly occurring in cities and urban areas, brought greater opportunities such as better public services and enhanced social equity. This growth, if not managed properly and when done unsustainably, will lead to problems like congestion, greater air pollution, and higher demand for energy. With this urbanisation trend, comes rising greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change that brings in stronger typhoons, increased rainfall and long dry spells. If not addressed, socio-economic activities of both families and communities will be affected - making it crucial for government leaders to take adaption and mitigation actions to avoid the devastating impact of climate change.

Local leaders should ensure that investments consider the environment to provide quality of life for all, now and in the future. Low emission development lowers GHG emissions and ensures climate compatible and resilient development, leading to economic, social and environmental benefits. It ensures that developments are resilient against a changing climate.
The Philippines submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with the aim of reducing GHG emissions in agriculture, waste, industry, transport, forestry and energy. Although a nationally let process, the transition to low emission development needs to mobilise the emission reduction potential at the local level.

Agriculture, waste, industry, forestry, transport and energy contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. These sectors are covered in the Nationally Determined Contributions or NDC. As frontline institutions Local Government Units (LGUs) can transition to action plans that support vertical integration and learning a low emission development. This dimension in planning is necessary to stimulate urban climate actions.

Local governments formulate Local Climate Change Action Plans LCCAP which are integrated into or derived from long term plans like the CLUP and CDP. Using local planning processes your LGU can integrate adaptation and mitigation policies in every step of your development.

While national leadership establishes the policy framework for achieving climate resilient and low emission development, you enforce these policies and decide your resources. LGUs formulate land use plans and enforce zoning ordinances, governing urban sprawl.

With low emission development, your LGU can reduce energy costs, address local pollution and lower carbon emissions while improving local economy and creating new businesses and job opportunities.

Your locality has much to gain from taking concrete actions to achieve low emission development: reduce health impacts from air pollution, sustainable energy from more secure and cheaper energy supplies reduce poverty and enhance safety; access to climate action funding such as the green climate fund, adaption fund and people survival fund.

The multiple benefits of climate action is a win-win situation for climate protection and local development. In fact there are local government units which are already demonstrating leadership for bringing down emissions. One example is the diversion of waste into compost used to grow plants and crops, and processing of garbage into alternative fuels.

There are more examples from other LGUs that have also transitions towards this development model with the assistance of various programmes and using tools and resources for integrating low emission development into planning and decision making. Such as the USAID Philippine B-Leaders in partnership with the Climate Change Commission; the CCC Low Emission Capacity Building PHL Project; the Urban LEDS implemented by the United Nation Human Settlements Programme in Partnership with ICLEI and EU; the V-LED project, implemented by UN Habitat in partnership with adelphi and support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety.

How do you start? You start by including GHG inventory and management into your local plans. Investment programmes and budget processes with the end goal of producing sustainable solutions.

Your responsibility is clear: addressing emissions needs to be an integral part of your development planning and investment programming with meaningful participation from all stakeholders, with your city and other local governments leading the way.

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