Collaboration Between Aliansi Kolibri and Civil Society Brings Innovative Solutions to Address Climate Change

Climate change is an escalating global threat, and the Philippines is no exception. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, January 2024 was the warmest January ever recorded globally, with an average surface air temperature of 13.14°C, 0.70°C above the 1991–2020 average, and 1.66°C above pre-industrial levels.

In the Philippines, agriculture is crucial to the economy but increasingly vulnerable to climate change. The country depends heavily on food imports, particularly rice and wheat, to meet domestic demand. Climate change intensifies this reliance by increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like typhoons, droughts, and floods. For example, in 2024, the Philippines faced five major typhoons within three weeks, displacing millions and causing significant agricultural losses. These climate-induced disruptions not only threaten local food production but also impact global supply chains, with export restrictions from other countries exacerbating the strain on the Philippines' food security.

Community-Based Forest Restoration, Sowing the Seeds for a Sustainable Future

Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s largest and most biodiverse tropical rainforests, including those in the Philippines and Indonesia, and plays a vital role in climate regulation, supporting thousands of plant and animal species, and providing essential resources for Filipinos, especially for the indigenous and rural communities.

Community-Led Reforestation in the Philippines

Those critical landscapes are increasingly under threat due to deforestation, illegal logging, mining, and agricultural expansion. From 2002 to 2023, the world lost 76.3 million hectares, according to Global Forest Watch, of tropical wet primary forest. The Philippines accounts for about 190,000 hectares, 13% of its total tree cover loss, posing serious risks to the nation’s biodiversity, water supply, and climate resilience.