Manila, Philippines, 21 November 2017 - UN Environment Asia and the Pacific Office, the Philippines Climate Change Commission, and the Philippine Green Building Council brought together more than 100 green building advocates and experts, development practitioners, community leaders, policy-makers, academics, industry practitioners, and financial institutions from the government and the private sector. Practitioners shared their insightful knowledge, experiences and potential strategies in ensuring the successful implementation of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) for the Building Sector within overall framework of promoting sustainable urban development and support implementation of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. This event has been organized by Building Sector Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) Project of UN Environment supported by Government of Germany under International Climate Initiative.
The Philippines Climate Change Commission, the implementation arm for the National Climate Change Action Plan, reiterated its commitment to promote and cooperate with key stakeholders in the development and mainstreaming of evidence-based climate adaptation and mitigation policies including transfer of technologies, practices and processes that helps in the reduction or prevention of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Government of Philippines has adopted the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2011-2028 which has seven strategic priorities namely — food security, water sufficiency, ecological and environmental stability, human security, climate-smart industries and services, sustainable energy and knowledge and capacity development. Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman firmly mentioned that, “The creation of our NAMA for the building sector will be in line with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions”. “The NAMA will also complement our National Climate Change Action Plan, which outlines the country’s adaptation and mitigation agenda from 2011 to 2018”. By shifting to more energy-efficient and climate friendly alternatives, the building sector can play a major role in reducing the threat of climate change and building resilience of our cities and communities. This window of opportunity is what inspired the CCC I pursuing initiatives on developing the NAMA for the building sector.
The Philippine Green Building Council, a national non-stock and non-profit organization, recognized contribution of the building sector which is as much as 30% of GHG emissions and has identified several cost-effective means to reduce GHG emission. Mr. Raymond Rufino, Chairman of the Philippine Green Building Council reiterated its intension of working together with Philippines Climate Change Commission, UN Environment and building sector partners to facilitate implementation of the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) in the building sector including promotion of holistic and market-based green building tools and practices to ensure a sustainable environment.
Mozaharul Alam, Regional Climate Change Coordinator of UN Environment Asia and the Pacific Office, stated that “today we have is the outcome of our past act, and our today’s act will shape our future”. Asia and the Pacific region is the home of almost 60% of world population and by 2050 it is likely to house 5.3 billion people of which 65% will be living in urban centre. It provides opportunities for building sector actors to make future urban development more low carbon and climate resilient. UN Environment is fostering partnership with key actors to implement climate actions to keep temperature rise below 2 degree centigrade while governments are aspiring for keeping temperature rise 1.5 degree.
President Rodrigo Duterte has passed the message to CCC Week and says, “The Philippines has joined the international community in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent global atmospheric temperature from rising. The Government has laid down the necessary legislative and administrative measures to address climate change and we need everyone’s cooperation and participation in this collective endeavour”.
