Photo credit: Congress PH

The House of Representatives approved House Bill No. 9084, known as the "Climate Change Resilience Act," on its third and final reading. The bill, principally authored by a group of dedicated representatives, aims to recognize the urgent climate change emergency and emphasizes the need for strategic government measures to curb human-induced global warming.

With a 238-0 vote, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez highlighted the necessity of immediate action, drawing on his experience witnessing the devastation caused by supertyphoon Yolanda a decade ago.

HB 9084 mandates the establishment of a comprehensive Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability Program. This program encompasses key components such as open data sharing among stakeholders, Probabilistic Climate Risk Assessments (PCRA), a national educational plan on climate resilience, the nexus between health and climate change, critical services, and ecosystem protection strategies.

The PCRA, as outlined in the bill, will consider various climate change scenarios and uncertainties, providing localized baseline information on climate risks faced by vulnerable communities. The legislation adopts a multi-sectoral approach, assigning specific roles to government agencies, including the Climate Change Commission, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and others.

The Climate Change Commission is tasked with coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating programs aligned with the National Climate Change Action Plan. The bill also emphasizes the participation of private entities, civil society organizations, and non-government organizations in environmental preservation.

A notable provision mandates an annual Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptability Summit, to be held in September, spearheaded by the Climate Change Commission.

The summit aims to bring together stakeholders to collaborate on efforts for environmental preservation and protection.