International Conference on the Coalition of Local Governments: Best Policies and Practices on Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Social Inclusion

 
Cebu Declaration

We, the participants from the Philippines, Thailand, Bangladesh and New Zealand to the International Conference on the Coalition of Local Governments: Best Policies and Practices on Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction and Social Inclusion held in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines from February 26-28, 2014 co-organized by the Regional Unit for Social and Human Sciences in Asia and the Pacific (RUSHSAP) Educational for Sustainable Development (ESD) United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Bangkok, the Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development (LCCAD) Inc., League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), Local Government Academy (LGA) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Cebu and the City Government of Mandaue, Philippines.

The Conference recommends ways for local chief executives and policymakers to continue support and builds more public awareness on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction to improved community resiliency.

To encourage greater participation of the local government  units composed of Cities and Municipalities in the Asia and the Pacific in disseminating information on climate change adaptation, within the overall framework of sustainable development, to local communities, at the grassroots level such that all modes of information, education and communication to increase awareness and appreciation of climate change are utilized;

To promote social inclusion and dialogue to realize potential for green and decent jobs through positive support of LGUs in the transition towards environmentally sustainable patterns of production and consumption;

To urge the UNESCO, local and national government to vigorously collaborate with all countries in the Conference of Parties and other international forum and negotiations to push for more aggressive and more immediate emission reduction targets for developed countries, more expeditious implementation of adaptation funds under the UN system to pump prime the process in a manner that will ensure direct benefits to the local communities;

Encourage cooperation among concerned agencies, international development agencies, business groups, non-governmental  organizations, academe, religious, and tri-media to work together with the UNESCO, Local

Government Academy-DILG, LCCAD, Leagues of Cities and Municipalities of the Philippines for a concerted effort on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction;

 The continuity of climate variability and extreme events, without adjusting to manage these impacts or adapt to these, may obliterate our gains and seriously hamper our efforts towards realizing our Millennium Development Goals’ (MDGs) targets particularly on poverty and hunger, food security, education, health, among others

 The LGUs, the sources of information, has extensive reach and influence in building a critical mass with its vital role of informing and educating the public, would be able to transform this “critical mass” into vanguards that would build and sustain a resilient community and environment

THEREFORE, WE, THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVES AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PHILIPPINES, THAILAND, BANGLADESH AND NEW ZEALAND, ARE HEREBY DECLARE OURSELVES” TO THE FOLLOWING PLAN OF ACTION:

- To work, within UNESCO Coalition of Local Governments, our local context and environment, towards popularizing the concept of building resilient communities and environment that would able to adjust and adapt to the impacts of climate variability and extremes

- To increase LGUs understanding on climate change adaptation and put into practice anticipatory planning for continuous development that would contribute to attaining socially inclusive growth, in spite of the threats from climate change

- To promote  available  tools,  among of which  but not  limited  to,  those developed under the DILG-Local Government Academy, Local Climate Change Adaptation for Development Guidebook for the Preparation of Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP). These include understanding impacts of climate projections; using vulnerability assessment tools and socio-economic impact models; and identifying adaptation measures that would address vulnerabilities such as setting up early warning systems for communities, knowing hazards and risks areas, etc

- To spread information on local adaptation measures that could be applied in other local communities

- To educate the public on the connection between adapting to climate change adaptation and attainment of socially inclusive growth and

- To underscore the vital role of the local communities and local government in addressing the impacts of climate change and in building resilient communities

- Establish partnerships with cities and municipalities and provide educational, technical and cultural support to increase the liveability of communities vulnerable to climate change; and

- Establish partnerships with government, industry, academe, and other organizations to support the vision and mission of the UNESCO, LCCAD, LGA and the Coalition of Cities in the Asia-Pacific.