The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said effort needs to be poured into shifting consumption and production processes towards sustainable means to achieve a “climate-smart” economy.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan at the agency’s event discussion on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028 on Monday, called for the implementation of actions to accelerate sustainable consumption and production (SCP).
“Given today’s technological advances, sustained levels of high growth need not be at the expense of the environment. We must promote consumption and production patterns that maximize current and future welfare, allowing us to balance the pressing needs of today with the optimal preservation of our natural resources for future generations,” Balisacan said.
The efforts are contained in the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP).
“To this end, the PAP4SCP contains various strategies and actions to influence the behaviors and practices of consumers and producers to reduce waste and environmental degradation. Moreover, the PAP4SCP includes programmatic interventions across sectors and levels of government towards decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation,” NEDA said in a statement.
The action plan is necessary to operationalize what the NEDA said is a roadmap to institutionalize Natural Capital Accounting in the Philippines (NCA Roadmap).
“The NCA Roadmap provides strategic guidance for the full institutionalization and integration of NCA in the government’s planning, policymaking, investment programming, and comprehensive accounting of the country’s wealth,” NEDA said.
Balisacan said that the NCA is necessary to make the country “fully aware of the environmental impact of our economic activities.”
“We must measure and properly account for the use of our natural resources,” he said.
Rosemarie G. Edillon, NEDA undersecretary, said the action plan and the NCA Roadmap “are integral in translating the PDP goal and strategies into implementable actions to realize the country’s Ambisyon Natin 2040.”
“However, we must keep in mind that the government cannot certainly do this alone. Our concerted effort is key to accelerating the country’s shift toward a more sustainable and climate-smart economy,” she said.
