PHL, high-risk nations forge new alliance against climate change

Some 20 high-risk developing nations including the Philippines on Tuesday forged a new alliance for climate change preparedness, dubbed as the global partnership for preparedness (GPP).

"The new global partnership for preparedness (GPP) is led by the Vulnerable Twenty (V20) Group of Ministers of Finance of the Climate Vulnerable Forum which represents 43 high risk developing nations," the finance department said in an emailed statement.

Set to take full effect later this year, the partnership plans to achieve better access to risk analysis and early warnings, as well as contingency plans with clear lines of responsibility, triggers for action, and pre-committed finance.

It also hopes to develop social protection, basic services, and delivery systems capable of responding to shocks.

The partnership is in collaboration with United Nations (UN) agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Food Programme (WFP). It is also in partnership with the World Bank's Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).

"The partnership will strengthen preparedness capacities initially in 20 countries, so they attain a minimum level of readiness by 2020 for future disaster risks mainly caused by climate change," the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

National Treasurer Roberto B. Tan said the goal of the partnership is to make sure that mechanisms and support will be in place when disasters strike.

"We know investment in preparedness saves lives and dollars and thus makes financial and economic sense," he said, representing V20 Chair Sec. Cesar Purisima during the launch of the GPP during at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey.

"If we plan ahead, we will create a situation where instead of wave after wave of climate-driven natural disasters destroying what gains communities have made, they can pick up their lives again as soon as possible. Crises such as those from natural disasters and effects of climate change should no longer spin out of control," he added. —ALG, GMA News