Greenpeace has renewed its call for the Philippine government and local communities to adopt and implement disaster risk reduction strategies centered on climate action. 

The group made the call after the onslaught of Typhoon Kompasu (Maring), which killed at least 12 people in the northern Philippines.

“The onslaught of Typhoon Maring, although expected, still resulted in loss of lives and livelihoods. This tells us there is an urgent need to ramp up DRR strategies particularly in this era of climate crisis,” said Virginia Benosa-Llorin, Greenpeace Philippines Campaigner. 

She said strategies must include “upholding people’s right to a healthy environment as a way to mitigate disaster risks and enabling small communities to cope with climate impacts.” 

“A long-term coherent plan will also secure a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for the current and future generations,” she added.

Greenpeace has long been calling on the government to chart out a coherent strategy from local to national levels to address the climate crisis. 

The group said disaster risk reduction strategies must mainstream climate action in all policies, plans, and projects, including in city planning, infrastructure projects, permits for large-scale industrial activities, and fisheries and agricultural policies.

Benosa-Llorin said Maring heavily affects the agriculture sector and communities in flood- and landslide-prone areas. 

Greenpeace also called on the government to strengthen efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions by cancelling all coal projects in the pipeline and speeding up the shift to renewable energy.

In 2020, the group called for the declaration of a national climate emergency amid the worsening loss of life, livelihood, and property during typhoons.

The House of Representatives has adopted resolutions declaring a climate emergency, which was seen as a starting point to put climate action and climate justice at the center of governance.