GLASGOW – The Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) has underscored the need for strict government monitoring and guidance in climate adaptation plans because of their implications on national security and economic rights during the recent Plenary Session of the Group of 77 (G-77) and China Meeting.

The plenary forms part of the preparations running up to the two-week United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that started last weekend.

COP26 is an international summit from October 31 to November 12 seeking to accelerate the realization of the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This annual gathering is internationally dubbed as the “world’s last best chance” to avert the irreversible and catastrophic impact of climate change on the planet and humanity.

During the preparatory Plenary Session of the G77 + China Meeting, DOE Undersecretary and Spokesman Felix William Fuentebella cited that “adaptation affects economic rights and involves national security,” after the Republic of Ghana, the Plenary Coordinator, informed the body of the potential introduction of private funding in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.

Through the NAP process, countries are able to identify their respective medium- to long-term climate change adaptation strategies.

Undersecretary Fuentebella highlighted the importance of government oversight in the NAP process.

He proceeded to say that the introduction of private funding could best be in the implementation stage of the NAP, given the substantial financing requirements of adaptation projects.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has been vocally advocating for social and climate justice, as countries all over the world jointly move towards the attainment of a sustainable energy future.

In various domestic and international fora, Secretary Cusi had stressed that “while the Philippines is not a significant instigator of climate change, the country continues to suffer from its worsening wrath year after year.”

He had also previously emphasized that the “Philippine energy sector is committed to the successful completion of the energy transition process, while upholding the welfare and best interests of Filipino energy consumers.”

Undersecretary Fuentebella is part of the 19-member Philippine delegation to COP26 headed by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, and comprising officials from the Departments of Finance (DOF), of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); DOE; and the Office of the President (OP).

The Philippine delegation will continue to advocate the protection of the country’s interests in the two-week-long international summit.

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