THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has renewed the call on the private and public sector to forge stronger multistakeholder collaboration to implement risk-informed and inclusive actions that will enhance the country’s resilience.

According to Secretary Antonia Loyzaga, these partnerships play a vital role in accelerating an integrated, inclusive and transformative resilience agenda.

“The DENR is committed to supporting everyone in implementing informed and inclusive action and facilitating investments for climate and disaster resilience through multi-stakeholder partnerships,” she stressed.

Although the Philippines has made significant progress in the fields of disaster risk reduction and climate action, Loyzaga admitted it still remains one of the most vulnerable countries to natural and man-made hazards, as well as the impacts of climate change.

“What is happening to our ecosystems, in our communities is now indisputable–referring to the fact that humans have caused these problems–and in some cases, our ecosystems are at the point of being irreversibly damaged,” the DENR chief pointed out.

She cited findings of the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which showed that increases in the frequency and intensity of climate and weather extremes worldwide have had “widespread and pervasive effects on ecosystems, people, settlements, and infrastructure”.

These climate change impacts she added, have been attributed to human activities.

The IPCC report further stated that with increased global warming, climate change threats to cities, communities, and critical infrastructure will increase significantly in the mid- and long-term, particularly in areas already exposed to high temperatures, near coasts, or with high vulnerabilities.

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Joel dela Torre