The government outlined measures spanning agriculture, waste management, transportation and energy at the Superpollutant Action Summit organized by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Philippines submitted its NDC 3.0 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Sept. 8.
Near-term action
Environment Assistant Secretary Daniel Darius Nicer said cutting short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon and HFCs, could help slow warming in the near term while delivering other benefits.
“The Philippines reaffirms its commitment to accelerating near-term climate action by mitigating Short-Lived Climate Pollutants,” Nicer said. “Rapid reductions in superpollutants slow near-term warming while delivering immediate public health, clean air, and food security benefits.”
The government is aligning its NDC with the country's SLCP National Action Plan and Methane Mitigation Roadmap.
In agriculture, measures include expanding alternate wetting and drying technology in rice fields, deploying biodigesters and introducing climate-smart livestock feeding.
Waste-sector measures include expanded landfill gas capture and flaring, composting and anaerobic digestion.
Transport, energy
For transportation and energy, Nicer cited the enforcement of Euro 5 and Euro 6 vehicle emission standards, electrification of public utility vehicles and expansion of renewable energy.
The government is also seeking to curb HFC emissions by shifting the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector toward refrigerants with lower global warming potential and improving the recovery and disposal of waste refrigerants.
The measures are being pursued under the Kigali Amendment and DENR Administrative Order No. 2021-31.
Financing gap
Nicer said international support would be crucial to fully carry out the country's climate commitments.
He called for concessional, non-debt climate financing, cooperation through carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and increased technical assistance for localized monitoring, reporting and verification.
The Philippines has long made a substantial portion of its 75-percent emissions reduction and avoidance commitment dependent on international support, including climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building.
“The Philippines stands ready to work with global partners to turn superpollutant commitments into immediate, transformative action,” Nicer said. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
