What’s next for the Philippines after COP26?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Surprise announcements and flowery speeches won’t solve the climate crisis; Urgent actions and decisions should come immediately.

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) ended in overtime and on a disappointing note despite the urgent calls for world leaders to make commitments on crucial points, including the phasing out of fossil fuels.

“While the text agreed is far from perfect, we are moving in the right direction. What is essential to watch for now are the concrete steps Philippine government officials will take,” according to Atty. Angela Ibay, WWF-Philippines’ Head of Climate and Energy, said.

Now that the conference is over and the delegates are back home in their respective countries, the real and definite work begins. Policies need to be put in place, executive decisions need to be made, implementation enhanced, and stakeholders must be gathered and galvanized so that the country can move towards a future responsive to climate change.

“After COP26, we have a chance to Change the Ending for the planet. Our officials know their roles, they know the targets needed to be achieved to keep on track and aligned to the 1.5C temperature goal. Implement our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) properly and unconditionally, while ensuring nature stays at the heart of our response to the climate crisis, in tandem with a full transformation of the energy system,” Ibay said.

“Most Filipinos are already suffering from the climate crisis, but that doesn't mean the situation is hopeless. This is the fight for our survival and for the planet. And we need to win. Whatever it takes,” she said.

Philippine government officials should take the following urgent concrete steps following the pledges and promises they committed to at COP26 in Glasgow:

• Accelerate the clean and just energy transition through more renewable energy sources and energy efficiency use

• Undertake enhanced implementation of the Philippine NDC and ensure that the Philippine national budget supports our climate actions

• Put in place executive measures and policies that integrate sustainability in the systems that provide our basic needs

• Seriously implement actions to stop nature loss, scale-up restoration, and integrate the value of nature in our national plans

• Use effective leadership to get our local governments, the private sector, and all stakeholders to apply solutions towards climate resilience, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

COP26 wrapped up one day beyond the schedule with weak decisions in a number of important areas, including adaptation, loss and damage and climate finance. But, there are significant hooks in the text for countries to increase short-term climate ambition and to implement binding climate policies. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres admitted that countries “did not achieve these goals at this conference. But we have some building blocks for progress,” 

"Unfortunately, the collective political will was not enough to overcome some deep contradictions," he said in a video statement after COP26.

He also had a message for the "disappointed" young people, indigenous communities, women leaders, and all those leading the charge on climate action.

“I know you are disappointed. But the path of progress is not always a straight line. Sometimes there are detours. Sometimes there are ditches. But I know we can get there. We are in the fight of our lives, and this fight must be won. Never give up. Never retreat. Keep pushing forward.”

The Philippines was a signatory in several declarations announced during the conference including the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use which commits to halting deforestation and restoring forest land.

“COP26 is not just a one-time event where world leaders make surprise announcements and flowery speeches. Words won’t solve the climate crisis. Actions are what we need to see to Change the Ending for the planet now,” Ibay said.

“The Philippine delegation, led by DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, should make it clear now what direction the country is heading to protect nature and people from the worst effects of climate change,” Ibay said. “With the elections and a change of administration coming next year, our leaders should not put off addressing the climate crisis for later anymore.”

More information about WWF-Philippines’ call to #ChangeTheEnding by transitioning to a new and green normal can be found here: https://wwf.org.ph/resource-center/story-archives-2020/the-new-normal/

France's International Program Produire au Sud Puts a Spotlight on PH Cinema on its 20th Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Produire au Sud (PAS), the international training program designed for young directors and producers from Africa, Latin America, and Asia, and the professional side of the Festival des 3 Continents (also known as the Three Continents Festival), with the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) as its official partner, presents one film and one film project representing the country in the festival from November 20 to 26 in Nantes, France.

The PAS 20th anniversary celebrations are within the framework of the 43rd edition of the Festival des 3 Continents. The PAS anniversary program this year includes the retrospective, “20 Years of Produire au Sud,” a diverse selection of eighteen films featured in the past to illustrate the success of  the workshop and festival through the years, using the occasion as well as an opportunity to reflect both upon the history of the workshop and its future position within a changing and dynamic industry. Part of the selection is Shireen Seno’s award-winning Filipino film Nervous Translation that took part in the 2014 Bangkok PAS workshop.

PAS alumni, Nervous Translation tells the story of Yael, a shy eight year-old girl who lives in her private world, and finds out about a pen that can translate thoughts and feelings of nervous people.

As part of the PAS 20th anniversary celebration, Festival des 3 Continents is hosting the 21st PAS workshop where The Boy and the Fight of Spiders (Diwalwal), directed by Jarell Serencio and produced by Alexandra Maria Poblete of Los Otros, is participating along with five other producer-director pairs and their respective feature film projects benefiting from the experience, teaching, and  training of a group of experts, from development to the beginning of production. Both Serencio and Poblete are physically attending the workshop in Nantes, with the support of the Agency.

Diwalwal, an FDCP Southern Voices (SoVo) Film Lab grantee and participant, is about a spider-obsessed 12 year-old boy living in the Southern Philippines, who uncovers a web of lies as he looks for the bodies of his brother and father after losing them in a tunnel collapse.

“As a partner to this prestigious international workshop, we are proud that our country is represented by the award-winning film Nervous Translation, which has been selected to be part of the retrospective for the 20th anniversary of PAS. For the 21st edition this year, our very own SoVo grantee film project Diwalwal, following in the former’s footsteps, is taking part in this workshop. We strongly believe that this journey will equip the participating filmmakers with the knowledge and tools they will need to complete their film,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño.

The Festival des 3 Continents is an international competition with special screenings, retrospectives, tributes and thematic programmes, the festival presents a wide range of fiction and documentary films from Africa, Latin America, and Asia. The festival runs from November 19 to 28.

Science Camp helps kids make career decisions

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In response to the new education and career landscape brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recently held a special online edition of its Climate Science Youth Camp to help high schoolers plot their future.

Held annually since 2009, with only a brief respite in 2020 due to the pandemic, the DOST-SEI Climate Science Youth Camp brings together scientists and researchers to give students and teachers a close-up glimpse at nature and how to take care of it.

This year’s virtual Camp was focused on the phenomenon of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), or the proliferation—sometimes due to pollution or climate change—of microscopic water plants that are toxic to many animals, including people. However, in addition to its usual emphasis on climate science, the Camp also focused on helping kids make sense of the post-pandemic landscape with the theme, “Finding A Career Path Through Research.”

Marine biologist and camp leader Dr. Aletta Yñiguez underscored the need for inclusivity and diversity in science research.

“We weaved a story between what we are doing for the HAB program and the routes we took towards science and our contributions in the program,” Yñiguez explained. “We have diverse roles but our paths towards what we're doing now don't necessarily follow the expected—from computer scientist to geologist to marine informatics, or biology and computer science or community work.”

“We wanted to show that you can and should be creative and innovative in approaching science and potential careers in research,” she added.

DOST-SEI Director Josette T. Biyo urged participants to pursue careers in science regardless of their backgrounds. “We hope that this camp has helped students get a better idea of the careers that are open to them. Anyone from any walk of life can help protect the environment, and anybody with a healthy amount of curiosity can learn to become a scientist,” she underscored.

The 2021 Climate Science Youth Camp was attended by over three dozen students and teachers, from the NCR as well as from as far away as Region III and Region IV-A. The DOST-SEI plans to expand the Youth Camp offerings to include even more regions and participants, with meteorology and geology as key topics for 2022.