Key Definitions Related to Climate Change
- Adaptation: adjustments in systems to moderate harm or exploit benefits from climate change.
- Adaptive Capacity: ability of systems to adjust to climate change, moderate damage, or cope with consequences.
- Anthropogenic Causes: human-induced causes or activities.
- Climate Change: identifiable changes in climate properties over decades or longer.
- Climate Finance: resources allocated for climate adaptation and mitigation.
- Climate Variability: variations in climate beyond individual weather events.
- Climate Risk: vulnerability of systems to climate-related hazards.
- Disaster: serious community disruption exceeding local coping capacity.
- Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM): policies and capacities reducing disaster impacts.
- Gender Mainstreaming: integrating gender concerns in policies and programs to ensure equal benefits.
- Global Warming: increase in Earth's average temperature linked to greenhouse gas concentration.
- Greenhouse Effect and Greenhouse Gases: atmospheric warming processes and contributing gases.
- Mainstreaming: integrating climate change policies into development planning.
- Mitigation: human actions reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing sinks.
- Mitigation Potential: scale of achievable emission reductions.
- Sea Level Rise: increase in sea levels caused by global warming and local factors.
- Vulnerability: susceptibility of systems to climate change effects based on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.
Establishment and Composition of the Climate Change Commission
- Creation of an independent, autonomous Climate Change Commission with the status of a national agency.
- Attached to the Office of the President, serving as lead government policymaker on climate change.
- Tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating government climate programs and plans.
- Composition includes the President as Chairperson and three appointed Commissioners including one Vice Chairperson.
- An advisory board with multiple government secretaries, local government league presidents, civil society representatives, and others to provide guidance.
- Sectoral representatives appointed by the President from nominated and endorsed candidates, serving six-year terms.
Operations and Governance of the Climate Change Commission
- Commission meetings convened quarterly or as necessary, chaired by the President or Vice Chairperson.
- Decisions require a majority vote of Commissioners, with the Chairperson retaining voting rights post-meeting.
- Commissioners must be at least 30 years old, Filipino citizens, with proven expertise and integrity in climate change.
- One Commissioner must be female; Commissioners must come from different sectors.
- Commissioners serve six-year terms with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
- Commissioners enjoy rank, privileges, and compensation equivalent to high-level government officials.
- Removal of Commissioners requires due process for cause or incapacity.
Powers, Functions, and Strategic Planning of the Commission
- Coordination and synchronization of national climate programs.
- Formulation of a Strategic Framework on Climate Change to guide planning, R&D, and monitoring.
- Policy coordination to achieve framework goals.
- Recommend legislation and appropriations for climate adaptation and mitigation.
- Recommend investments in climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, health, water, and infrastructure.
- Promote multi-stakeholder participation and creation of risk-sharing instruments.
- Coordinate with disaster risk bodies to reduce vulnerabilities.
- Represent the Philippines in international climate negotiations.
- Develop guidelines on assessing vulnerabilities and climate adaptation.
- Collaborate with local governments and private sectors to address regional climate vulnerabilities.
- Support capacity building and local adaptation planning.
- Oversee dissemination of climate change information.
- Establish transparency mechanisms in climate finance administration.
National Strategic Framework and Program on Climate Change
- The Commission must formulate a National Strategic Framework within six months from law effectivity.
- Framework guides climate change planning, research, extension, monitoring, and financing.
- Framework based on vulnerabilities, adaptation needs, mitigation potential, and international commitments.
- Requires review every three years through participatory processes.
- Framework components include priorities, assessments, policy formulation, research, database management, capability building, advocacy, monitoring, and gender mainstreaming.
Roles of Government Agencies in Climate Change Implementation
- Department of Education: integrate climate change into education curricula at all levels.
- Department of Interior and Local Government: provide LGU capacity building with attention to women and children.
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources: maintain climate information systems.
- Department of Foreign Affairs: review and recommend international climate agreements.
- Philippine Information Agency: disseminate climate-related information and awareness materials.
- Department of Finance: coordinate fiscal policies related to climate finance.
- Department of Budget and Management: prioritize and allocate budgets supporting climate initiatives.
- Department of Science and Technology: promote scientific research, climate data collection, and projections.
- Government financial institutions (except BSP): provide preferential financing for climate projects.
Coordination and Stakeholder Participation
- The Commission shall consult and coordinate with NGOs, civic groups, academic institutions, private sector, and other stakeholders in developing climate action plans.
Authority to Receive Donations and Grants
- The Commission authorized to accept donations, grants, and gifts from local and foreign sources.
- Foreign donations require Presidential and Finance Department clearance.
- Donations restricted from funding personal services or operating expenses.
- Funds channeled to research, vulnerability assessments, advocacy, and other climate change activities as defined by the Commission.
Establishment of the People’s Survival Fund (PSF)
- A special fund created in the National Treasury dedicated to financing climate adaptation programs.
- Initial appropriation of Php 1 billion with a guaranteed minimum annual balance.
- Fund exempt from revert to the general fund and exempt from donor’s tax for contributions.
- Proceeds used exclusively for adaptation activities, excluding personal and operational costs of the Commission.
Sources and Uses of the People’s Survival Fund
- Fund sources: annual appropriations, donations, grants, and other contributions.
- Fund uses include:
- Adaptation activities in water, land, agriculture, fisheries, health, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
- Monitoring of climate-related diseases and vector control.
- Climate hazard forecasting and early warning systems.
- Institutional development for local governments in climate adaptation.
- Strengthening regional centers and information networks.
- Risk insurance guarantees for agricultural stakeholders.
- Community adaptation support by accredited local organizations.
- Fund encourages counterpart contributions from various sectors.
Governance of the People’s Survival Fund
- Creation of the People’s Survival Fund Board composed of key government officials and sector representatives.
- Board members from academe, business, and NGOs disqualified from accessing the fund during and up to one year after tenure.
- The Board formulates policies, approves projects, develops safeguards, identifies additional funding, and ensures transparency and independent auditing.
Role of the Climate Change Commission in PSF Utilization
- The Commission, led by the Vice Chairperson, reviews and recommends project proposals to the Board.
- Utilizes technical expertise from government agencies and experts for appraisal and monitoring.
- Does not implement projects directly.
- Establishes transparency and public access mechanisms.
- Accredits local organizations eligible to access the fund based on independence, track record, financial management, and participatory practices.
Prioritization and Community Participation in Fund Allocation
- Project funding prioritization criteria include:
- Risk and vulnerability level;
- Community participation;
- Poverty reduction potential;
- Cost-effectiveness;
- Co-benefits beyond LGU jurisdiction;
- Multi-sectoral benefits;
- Gender responsiveness;
- Presence of climate adaptation plans.
- Encourages transparency and involvement of vulnerable groups and NGOs as observers in project processes.
Miscellaneous Provision
- Separability clause ensures the unaffected validity of the law’s other sections if any part is declared unconstitutional.
- Repeals inconsistent laws or regulations.
- Takes effect 15 days after publication in at least two national newspapers.