INANUNSYO ng Asian Development Bank (ADB) na inaprubahan nito ang $500-million policy-based loan para mapalakas pa ang kakayahan ng Pilipinas para harapin ang climate change.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng ADB na ang $500-million Climate Change Action Program (CCAP) Subprogram 2 “supports the country in implementing its nationally determined contribution (NDC)—its commitment to help advance global efforts to stabilize the world’s climate under the Paris Agreement.”
Tinuran ng ADB na ang loan program ay inaasahan na makatutulong para mapabilis ang mga reporma para i-transform ang mga pangunahing sektor gaya ng ‘agriculture, natural resources at environment, energy, at ihatid sa climate-resilient at low-carbon pathways.
Sinabi pa ng ADB na ang Pilipinas ay nahaharap sa pinakamataas na disaster risk sa buong mundo, tinukoy ang World Risk Index 2022-2024.
“In recent weeks, four strong storms impacted the country one after the other, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events,” ayon sa ADB.
Nito lamang nakaraang linggo, ang economic damage mula saclimate-related disasters ay ‘could be as high as 7.6% of gross domestic product’ sa 2030.
“Climate change is exacerbating all major development challenges in the Philippines. The country’s high vulnerability impacts its economic momentum and outlook,”ang sinabi naman ni ADB Philippines country director Pavit Ramachandran.
“This program is part of our commitment to help our host country avert economic damages from future climate change impacts, mobilize green investment, and transform its economy,” aniya pa rin.
Ang unang CCAP para sa Pilipinas ay inaprubahan noong 2022. ito rin ang unang climate policy-based loan ng ADB sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng Asya at Pasipiko.
Sinabi pa ng ADB na ang programa ay isang mahalagang sangkap ng bagong country partnership strategy nito para sa 2024-2029 at country climate investment plan, naglalayon na gamitin ang $10 billion sa climate finance para sa implementasyon ng NDC at national adaptation plan (NAP) ng bansa.
Sa ilalim ng NDC, layon ng Pilipinas na tapyasan ang greenhouse gas emissions at palakihin ang adaptasyon.
Sinabi pa ng ADB na ang CCAP Subprogram 2 ay “instrumental in delivering these ambitions through key reforms such as adopting the NDC Implementation Plan and NAP 2023–2050, scaling up budget allocations for climate activities, and deploying climate technologies at national and local levels.”
“The program also strengthens policies and regulations to mobilize climate-related investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency, climate-resilient agriculture, and nature-based solutions,” ang sinabi pa rin nito.
Winika pa rin ng ADB na ang CCAP Subprogram 2 ay inihanda kasama ng Agence Française de Développement, kung saan magko-co-finance sa $278.3 million sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas. Kris Jose
