COP18 Extends the "Life" of Kyoto Protocol

Congratulations to the UNFCCC for the agreements (see PDF copy here) made to renew the life of the Kyoto Protocol. Many will malign your accomplishment, but, it is important to know that there is no perfect international treaty because there will be winners and losers. The road is still long and winding, hence, the UNFCCC and member-countries should keep the lines of communication open, and be open for ideas for improvement.

Philippine Climate Change Negotiator Sheds Tears for Typhoon Victims

"An important backdrop for my delegation is the profound impacts of climate change that we are already confronting. As we sit here, every single hour, even as we vacillate and procrastinate here, the death toll is rising. There is massive and widespread devastation. Hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered without homes. And the ordeal is far from over, as Typhoon Bopha has regained some strength as it approaches another populated area in the western part of the Philippines. Madam Chair, we have never had a typhoon like Bopha, which has wreaked havoc in a part of the country that has never seen a storm like this in half a century. And heartbreaking tragedies like this is not unique to the Philippines, because the whole world, especially developing countries struggling to address poverty and achieve social and human development, confront these same realities.
Finally, Madam Chair, I speak on behalf of 100 million Filipinos, a quarter of a million of whom are eking out a living working here in Qatar. And I am making an urgent appeal, not as a negotiator, not as a leader of my delegation, but as a Filipino.
I appeal to the whole world, I appeal to leaders from all over the world, to open our eyes to the stark reality that we face. I appeal to ministers. The outcome of our work is not about what our political masters want. It is about what is demanded of us by 7 billion people.
I appeal to all, please, no more delays, no more excuses. Please, let Doha be remembered as the place where we found the political will to turn things around. Please, let 2012 be remembered as the year the world found the courage to find the will to take responsibility for the future we want.
I ask of all of us here, if not us, then who ? If not now, then when ? If not here, then where ?"

Philippine Climate Change Commission at COP18 in Doha, Qatar

Despite being a non-emitter, we are ready to do our share- Sec. @lucille_sering #COP18

International Conference Panel "ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND PUBLIC POLICY", June 28, 1-5 p.m., EDSA Shangri-la, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

 UP-NCPAG International Conference

Invitation: Panel 2-A on “ECOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND PUBLIC POLICY” in the 2012 International Conference on Public Administration (UP-NCPAG@60), 28 June 2012, 1-5 p.m., EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City, Philippines

Chair:    PROF. EBINEZER R. FLORANO, PhD

                Assistant Professor

                University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance

Speakers:

1.       HON. MEL SENEN S. SARMIENTO

Representative, Western Samar, 1^st District,

House of Representatives, Republic of the Philippines

“Best Practices in Climate Change Adaptation”

2.       DEAN ANTONIO G.M. LA VIÑA, JSD

Professor and Dean

Ateneo School of Government,  Ateneo de Manila University

“Issues, Problems and Challenges Related to Climate Change Governance in the Philippines: A Policy Science Approach”

3.       MS. KALAYAAN PULIDO-CONSTANTINO

Oxfam-Philippines

Disaster Risk Financing in the Philippines

4.       DR. ANDREAS LANGE

GIZ Decentralization Program

“Land Use Planning for Climate Change Adaptation in the Philippines: What Can Be Done?”

5.       MR. TITO FORTES

City Climate Change Project Office

Sorsogon City, Philippines

“Climate Change and Local Governance in Sorsogon City”

6.       LT. COL. VLADIMIR T. MATA

Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office

Dagupan City, Philippines

“Coastal Climate Change Adaptation: Case of Dagupan City”

LECTURE: Green Climate Fund by Dr. Sarah Bracking

Title:  Private Equity Funds and the Green Climate Fund:How Successful are Financial Institutions at Delivering Development and Managing Environmental Harm?

Date and Time: 26 June 2012, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Venue: Case Room or Room 307, National College of Public Administration and Governance, University of the Philippines (CLCD), UP-NCPAG), Diliman, Quezon City

Contact Person:  Mr. Don Jeffery Quebral, Center for Leadership, Citizenship, and Democracy (UP-NCPAG), Tel. No. 925-4109 or 981-8500 local 4158

Lecturer: Dr. Sarah Bracking is Senior Lecturer in Politics and Development at the Institute for Development Policy and Management, University of Manchester, England.

Dr. Bracking attended first York University in the United Kingdom (BA Hons Politics), then Leeds University (MA, International Resources and Development; PhD, Structural Adjustment, Business and the State). She then worked as a Research Fellow at the Centre for Democratisation Studies at Leeds University, principally on the International IDEA State of Democracy Project. She then moved to the University of Manchester where she is currently a Senior Lecturer, teaching “Politics and Development and the Political Economy of Development.” She is editor of Corruption and Development (Palgrave, 2007) and author of Money and Power (Pluto, 2009). . Dr. Bracking is currently completing a book on The Financialisation of Power in Africa.

Her research interests include political economy and political science on African States and markets, and comparative political analysis of democracies and democratization; malign politics, political corruption, authoritarianism and state collapse; poverty and the political economy of impoverishment, dispossession and destitution, and development finance and its relation to the global political economy.       

Reactors: From relevant sectors, i.e., academe, business, government and NGOs

CLRG of UP-NCPAG conducts 2nd Climate Change Adaptation Seminar-Workshop for Local Government Executives

The Center for Local and Regional Governance (CLRG) of the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG) conducted its “2^nd Seminar-Workshop for Crafting Climate Change Adaptation Measures and Strategies” on 26-30 March 2012 at UP-NCPAG’s Audio-Visual Room. Nineteen participants from 11 municipalities attended the training program. Topics were about climate change, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, vulnerability assessment, financing adaptation plans, and mainstreaming of climate change to local development plans. At the end of the workshops, they were able to draw hazard maps, identified vulnerable areas and sectors in their municipalities, pinpoint the strengths and weaknesses of their local governments to respond to climate change hazards and disasters, and draw up climate change adaptation plans. Speakers came from the Climate Change Commission, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Center for Disaster Preparedness, Department of Finance, Transcend EPCS, Municipality of Opol, and UP-NCPAG. The next training is scheduled in June 2012. Please contact Miss Cely Jamig of CLRG at 928-3914, 925-7422 or her e-mail address (cljamig@yahoo.com)for details or registration. 

(Participants came from the Municipalities of Bangui, Ilocos Norte; Banga, Aklan; Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur; Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay; Mambajao, Camiguin; Maydolong, Eastern Samar; Opol, Misamis Oriental; Orani, Bataan; Quezon, Palawan; Sebaste, Antique; and Tubungan, Iloilo. )

2012 Environmental Governance Research Papers Conference

A  bountiful harvest of research papers in the field of Environmental Governance read in the "2012 Environmental Governance Research Papers Conference" on 27 March 2012 at the University of the Philippines-National College of Public Administration and Governance. For the full text and/or journal article-type version, e-mail the leader of the research group or Dr. Florano (efloranoy@yahoo.com). 

Assessment on the Effectiveness of the National Ecotourism Strategy of EO No. 111 Series of 1999 in Promoting Sustainable Development in the Protected Areas in Hundred Islands and Mayon Volcano Natural Park of the Philippines from 2002-2011

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the National Ecotourism Strategy in promoting sustainable development in Hundred Islands National Park and Mayon Volcano Natural Park of the Philippines from 2002-2011. Interviews with key persons and surveys with local communities, as well as baseline data extracted from local government units were used as the basis for analysis and formulation of recommendations.

Leader: Darwin John Soneja (dasoneja@yahoo.com)/ Members: Charles Cardenas, Stacy Mae Dumo, Harold Duane Fajardo, Roman Cyril Panganiban, Loida Ramos

A multi-case study on the effectiveness of the first two years of implementation of Plastic Bag Ban ordinances in Los Baños, Laguna; Lucban, Quezon; and Carmona, Cavite

The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the first two years of implementation of Plastic Bag Ban ordinances in Los Baños, Laguna; Lucban, Quezon; and Carmona, Cavite. The study aims to compare each LGU’s ordinance framework and assess whether the LGUs’ goals were met. To address these, survey questionnaires and interviews were conducted. Kruskal-Wallis statistical testing method was used to analyze respondents’ answers to survey questionnaires. Results showed that plastic bag ban ordinance implementation has an impact on the levels of plastic bag waste and consumption. Increased use of alternatives to plastics was observed when the ordinance was implemented. Lastly, an ideal plastic bag ban ordinance framework was proposed.

 Leader: Sherllene Shelley Vargas (shelley-vargas@gmail.com)/Members: Angelica Herico, Rafael Jose Itchon, Raeon Jakow Laspinas, Franclin Oliva, Marie Pearl Patiño,  Maryandel Villacorte

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Implemented Projects and Programs in Established Marine Protected Areas in the Municipalities of Balayan, Calatagan, Mabini and San Juan in the Province of Batangas

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the projects and programs implemented in established marine protected areas in the municipalities of Balayan, Calatagan, Mabini and San Juan in the Province of Batangas. The study focuses on how effective the implementation of their respective protected areas are in placing some restrictions on human activities in a specific area for the interest of the environment’s conservation and preservation. In conclusion, the effective implementation of projects and programs to marine protected areas has a positive impact on the livelihood of the local communities specifically to fishing and tourism. The study recommends the integration of the participation of the different stakeholders involved in the establishment of the marine protected areas as well as with the initiation of different projects and programs for its conservation and protection.

Leader: Mark Daniel Diosana (diosana.markdaniel@gmail.com)/Members: Camilo Bugayong, Michael Joseph Chua, Carlrex David Co, Joseph Dela Peña,  Carlo Miguel Sibal, Karen Justine Solomon

An Assessment on the Effectiveness of Executive Order 514 (Establishing the National Biosafety Framework) on the Development and Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as a Consumer Good in the Philippine Market

The study aims to assess the effectiveness of EO 514 (Establishing the Biosafety Framework) on the development and regulation of genetically-modified organisms as a consumer good in the Philippine market. It assesses government agencies particularly the Department of Agriculture and Department of Science and Technology on the performance of their functions as stated in EO 514. Criteria such as regulatory measures, guidelines in promoting safe and responsible use of biotechnology, level of public participation, and acceptability of GMOs in the public marker are considered  in conducting this study

Leader: Jo-ann Marie Y. Agustin (agustin-jaren@yahoo.com)/Members: Charles Frederick T. Co, Anna Carissa F. Cuadra, Marielle Carmela B. Garbo, Mary Zoelli R. Velasco, Alexis S. Vidar

Towards Responsible and Sustainable Mining: A Comparative Study of Indigenous and Commercial Mining Practices in Itogon, Benguet

This study compares the perception of commercial and indigenous mining practices in Itogon Benguet, specifically their effects on the environmental and socio-economic conditions in selected areas. In the three cases, of barangays exclusively practicing indigenous mining, exclusively practicing commercial mining, and practicing both indigenous and commercial mining respectively, it was found that indigenous mining is perceived to be more better than commercial mining in maintaining or improving the environmental and social conditions of the communities. Commercial mining on the other hand, is perceived as providing only economic benefits, while having a detrimental effect on the social and environmental conditions of the communities.

Leader: Juan Valeriano Respicio IV (jvrespicio@gmail.com)/Members: Norman Cualteros, Emmanuel Emigdio Dumlao, Mark Ivan Janda, Michael Dominic Padlan