December, 11 2024

Representatives from eleven of the fifteen OPC Philippine cities in this cycle met with members of the private sector and academe sector to exchange insights as key players in transitioning to a sustainable low-carbon pathway.

“We recognize the crucial role of cities as solutions to climate and environmental problems around the world. Philippine cities need to transform into leaders of urban sustainability which has been our driving force for several years now,” Atty. Angela Consuelo Ibay said during her remarks at the program.

“The goal of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees can only be achieved through the collective efforts of local governments, businesses, the academe, and individuals,” Ibay said.

A panel discussion with EnP Xenon Walde, Division Head from the Department of Environmental Services of Makati City; Lea Austria, Communication Officer at Oxfam Pilipinas; and Eco Harvey of the Sangguinian Kabataan (SK) in Payatas, discussed the critical role that Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) can play in setting a pathway for the Philippines.

Asked how they fund environmental protection and net-zero initiatives, Walde highlighted Makati City’s investments in research to understand how the city contributes to various emissions such as carbon, methane, and waste pollution. He added that long-term environmental protection is included in the 2030 and 2050 Makati Plans. 

Harvey stressed the importance of involving youth in the planning process and empowering them to make decisions for their city rather than solely relying on elders. At the same time, Austria highlighted the need for the inclusion of marginalized sectors in climate change plans, particularly women and children, who are directly affected by climate change. 

Austria added that including marginalized groups in decision-making processes led to greater community engagement in disaster risk management and participation in other community plans.

The event also served as the local awarding ceremony of the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2023-2024, which aimed to recognize the strides made by cities in their climate change adaptation and mitigation plans and actions.

Based on the reported climate data and the Global OPCC Jury assessment, Makati City was recognized as the National Winner for OPCC 2023-2024. Baguio City and Tagum City were the National Finalists for this cycle. For the We Love Cities campaign that goes hand-in-hand with the OPCC, Dipolog City won the title as the Regional Winner in Asia.

Further, on December 5, 2024, the cities of Baguio and Tagum participated in the “Eco Echo: Untuk Indonesia, Beyond Wildlife” event, which served as the Southeast Asia Regional Awarding for the OPCC 2023-2024 at the Ciputra Artpreneur Theatre in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event recognized the finalists and winning cities from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Beyond the awarding ceremony, the event provided a platform for city leaders, students, corporations, NGOs, and media to share and promote sustainable practices, addressing critical global environmental challenges. Tagum City Councilor Coquilla also participated in the event’s panel discussion, “City Leaders’ Talk: Southeast Asian Cities’ Commitment to the Paris Agreement,” alongside representatives from other Southeast Asian OPCC cities, including Malaysia and Indonesia.

“We are elated at the amazing progress of cities who joined OPCC when it comes to their climate plans. Empowering local governments so that they can become better public servants is part of our continuing work to protect nature,” Imee Bellen, OPC Project Manager, said.

“When our local government leaders understand their impact on the environment and people, they make better decisions that will lead to a cleaner and greener future. Likewise, it is important for them to enable local stakeholder engagements and public-private partnerships to ensure inclusivity and participatory planning towards transforming their cities together” she added.

The OPCC is a friendly, biennial challenge of WWF for cities worldwide to present ambitious, holistic, inspiring, and credible plans toward the 1.5C global goal.