Organizers and participants of the Coping with Climate Change Risks Forum of iBoP Asia and Christian Aid

The forum was held last March 4 and 5, 2009 at the Eugenio Lopez Center in Antipolo City. The event was done in partnership with Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Ateneo de Manila University.

Mr. Richard Fuchs, director of IDRC’s regional office in Singapore, and Usec. Fortunato de la Peña, current chair of the iBoP Asia Project Advisory Committee, emphasized in their opening remarks the timeliness of this discussion of the economic and social impacts of climate change, particularly on vulnerable communities at the base of the pyramid (BoP). Furthermore, Ms. Jessica Bercilla of Christian Aid highlighted the urgency of realizing the need for more proactive adaptation measures – to develop evidence- and science-based policies; develop and promote indigenous practices/technologies; and foster multi-stakeholder partnerships that will enable easy access to and adoption of CCA innovations.   

Climate change and BoP overview

Understanding the phenomenon of climate change and how it affects our life patterns, especially those at the BoP, is a key step in the process of finding ways to adapt to its effects. Ms. Toni Loyzaga of the Manila Observatory and Dr. Hermi Francisco of IDRC’s Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia gave an overview on climate change and its impacts both at the regional and local levels, with Dr.Francisco giving a preview of the climate change vulnerability map for Southeast Asia that was later launched by IDRC and Earth Institute Asia on March 6 at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati. Dr. Nathaniel Servando of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration pointed out the observed increase in the maximum daily temperatures in the Philippines, which could result to stronger tropical cyclones, thereby increasing the threat to human lives and assets. The National Statistical Coordination Board and the National Anti-Poverty Commission gave an overview on the poverty incidence in the country, and identified farmers and fisher folk as two of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change impacts. Shedding more light on the life condition at the BoP is the presentation made by Ms. Niti Bhan of Emerging Futures Lab – Singapore, which gave insights on the behavioural and spending patterns of the poor – important factors that should be taken into consideration when developing innovations for BoP communities.

On-the-ground initiatives

The presentations of local government leaders and community partners on the CCA efforts being done in their respective areas prove that the capacity of communities to respond to the challenges of climate change cannot, and should not, be discounted. A pioneering effort is the Albay in Action on Climate Change (A2C2) initiative of Governor Joey Salceda, which made climate change adaptation as a governing policy in the province – behaviour of local residents, and all local projects and programs should be consistent with and should take CCA into consideration. Another LGU-based innovation is the Agro-Meteorological Station in Dumangas, Iloilo, which is a pilot project of PAGASA and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. The Agro-Met Station generates climate forecasts and advisories issued to local farmers and other agricultural players. Other noteworthy examples of innovations are the rainwater harvesting technology promoted by the Kahublagan Sang Panimalay Foundation based in Iloilo; the structural design of a disaster-resilient schoolhouse, which won the 2008 Millennium School Design Competition; the tulakbong or net used by small farmers in Iloilo to protect their crops from excessive rainfall and pests; and the processed vegetables that can be packed, stored and consumed in times of emergencies - technique was developed by a local NGO, the Panay Rural Development Center.

Developing effective CCA policies and encouraging policy support

Guest speaker Sec. Heherson Alvarez, former Senator and current Presidential Adviser on Global Warming and Climate Change, reiterated in his speech the urgent need to draw the attention of policy makers to the threat of a “creeping” climate change. More importantly, Sec. Alvarez pointed out the need to bridge the gap between communities, scientists and policy makers in order to formulate evidence- and science-based policies that can enable our people, especially the poor, to cope with and adapt to climate change impacts. Other strategies, such as the imposition of levy on carbon dioxide emissions and the development of insurance schemes for agricultural crops and infrastructures, could also be considered. Ms. Amelia Supetran of the United Nations Development Programme, one of the invited panel discussants, succinctly defined the prerequisites for developing effective CCA policies and strategies – gather data and empirical evidence from the ground; make sense of what is happening and develop a conceptual framework for action; translate this framework into operational tools and capacities; and, most critical of all, involve local communities in the process of developing CCA innovations.

View forum proceedings (PDF)

View Day 1 program and presentations

View Day 2 program and presentations