Adaptation critical in fight vs climate change, CCC says

GMANewstv.com (Philippines): As the country braces for the possible arrival of stronger typhoons this year, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said adaptation is the “critical aspect" in the fight against climate change. CCC, the government arm tasked to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation, said it will forge an agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that aggressive adaptation measures will be advocated in all levels of governance.

CCC vice-chairman Secretary Heherson Alvarez said the CCC will sign this month a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DILG and the Centre for Initiatives and Research in Climate Change Adaptation (CIRCA) of Albay province.

The other party to the planned MOU will be the United Nations (UN) in the Philippines, through its Resident Coordinator Jacqueline Badcock, also the United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative.

“The battle plan to address and confront the challenges of global warming and climate change in the Philippines, being highly-vulnerable to climate-related hazards, is a two-pronged approach," explained Alvarez. The chairman of the CCC is President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy" Aquino III himself.

According to Alvarez, the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) recognizes the need for the country to take up mitigation efforts. It also highlights the need for adaptation measures which are critical in the fight against climate change….

Seeking shelter from Typhoon Morakot in 2009, shot by Marconarajos