In a significant move to combat climate change, the Philippines and Japan have pledged to deepen their environmental collaboration. This commitment was highlighted during the opening of the 2nd Philippine-Japan Environment Week, where Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga spoke about the importance of their partnership in tackling shared environmental issues.
The event, which also saw the participation of Japan’s Environment Minister Kobayashi Fumiaki and Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, underscored the formalization of their cooperation through a Memorandum signed in December 2023. This agreement reflects the strong bond and common goals of both nations towards achieving sustainable development and regional stability.
Secretary Loyzaga detailed several key areas for joint action, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, pollution control, clean energy development, and improving water access. These topics were set to be explored in depth over the three-day event, aiming to find practical solutions to the environmental challenges both countries face.
The Philippines is actively working to enhance its climate action strategies, focusing on reforestation, building multi-purpose water facilities, and investing in both green and gray infrastructure. Additionally, the country is improving its systems for monitoring, reporting, and verification to participate more effectively in carbon markets.
Loyzaga also updated on the DENR’s efforts in disaster risk reduction, air quality monitoring, and integrated water resource management. She mentioned ongoing projects to improve water supply for underserved communities and to bolster water security for agricultural and industrial needs.
The DENR is also pushing for a circular economy, emphasizing compliance with extended producers’ responsibility in waste management, particularly targeting plastic pollution and marine litter. Furthermore, the department is taking steps to ban hazardous chemicals such as lead in paints, asbestos, and mercury-containing products.
As nations surrounded by water, both the Philippines and Japan face unique challenges and opportunities in managing ocean resources. The Philippines plans to establish marine science stations across its marine biogeographic areas to enhance scientific research and sustainable ocean management.
On the front of biodiversity conservation, the DENR is fully committed to implementing the global biodiversity framework, focusing on reducing biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems, and protecting indigenous and local communities. Loyzaga emphasized an ecosystem-based approach to managing and monitoring the health of terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems, which is crucial for sustainable development.