Департамент охраны окружающей среды Филиппин внедрил инструмент оценки климатических рисков для защиты провинций

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is promoting a climate risk assessment tool to help provinces identify vulnerable areas and prioritize investments to protect communities, livelihoods and infrastructure from worsening climate hazards. The Provincial Climate Risk Diagnostic (PCRD) Tool allows provincial governments to assess risks from flooding, landslides, strong winds, forest fires and extreme heat, and determine where resources could have the greatest impact, the DENR said Monday. “Climate action is strongest when it is guided by sound data and risk-informed planning,” Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said. Cuna stressed the importance of aligning local climate initiatives with the National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050 and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan 2023-2030. The PCRD Tool can assess current conditions and projected exposure to climate hazards in 2030 and 2050, helping provinces develop long-term adaptation strategies, Cuna said. It also assesses the potential impact of hazards on communities, livelihoods, infrastructure, essential services and ecosystems, as well as the capacity of institutions to respond. The tool can accommodate varying levels of available data through its Basic, Basic+ and Advanced assessments. This allows provinces to determine what information they already have, identify data gaps, and pinpoint areas requiring additional technical assistance. To expand its use, the DENR Climate Change Service (CCS), together with development organizations, government agencies and academic institutions, has been conducting training and capacity-building programs for local governments. From Aug. 10 to 14, the DENR held a Panay-wide technical workshop in Roxas City, attended by 71 representatives from the provincial governments and DENR offices of Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Iloilo, as well as regional government agencies and Capiz State University. Participants were trained in data collection, hazard mapping, risk analysis and visualization using the PCRD Tool. They also learned to use its dashboards to assess climate hazards, exposure and vulnerability across different sectors. The DENR said the wider rollout of the tool is intended to help provinces consolidate climate information and make evidence-based decisions on investments aimed at protecting communities, livelihoods and ecosystems.