Abstract
The Philippines was ranked as the fifth most climate change-affected country in the last 20 years according to the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2018 report. From 1999 to 2918, the country has logged the highest number of extreme weather events at 317, and accrued USD 3.1 billion in losses. Coastal communities have largely suffered these damages, both through the gradual diminishing of fisheries catch due to coral bleaching and changes in plankton dynamics, and the sudden massive destruction of properties and deaths due to storm surges from devastating typhoons such as 2013’s Haiyan. To continue providing for their families’ basic needs, community locals often resort to environmentally-destructive activities such as illegal fishing and mangrove lumbering –further weakening the climate resilience of their areas. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) solutions for the conservation and rehabilitation of natural assets are key processes that merge both life and social sciences in delivering a response for the current and emerging challenges of climate change. But EbA solutions entail costs and for the Philippines, programs addressing climate change are not given high priority due to limited financial resources. In this research, I investigate EbA measures being undertaken in coastal communities as a response to climate change and for the overall protection and conservation of its marine resources. I also explore more particularly how these EbAs can empower communities and how cross-sectoral collaboration by local governments and private groups in the implementation of EbAs are able to define credible commitments consistent with the global climate change agenda.
Presenters
Manuel De VeraAssistant Professor and Executive Director, TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership, Asian Institute of Management, Philippines
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
GOVERNANCE, EBA FINANCING, COASTAL COMMUNITIES, PHILIPPINES
