18. Tackling Climate Emergency Head-On: An Action Agenda for Policymakers

The climate emergency in the Philippines requires decisive action now, not later. The realities on the ground show that the country’s food, water and health sectors are highly vulnerable to the impacts of the changing climate. The experiences of communities in select river basin ecosystems and coastal communities demonstrated how the climate emergency has stretched local resources, challenging the capacities of both local and national governments in managing current and future climate risks. These highlight the need for multi-disciplinary responses and whole-of-government approaches in responding to the crisis. In this light, this chapter presents a nine-point action agenda to effectively address the country’s greatest existential conundrum.