Policy

The objective of effective climate policy is to facilitate and sustain whatever activity is needed to attain the UNFCCC objective of stabilizing GHG levels in the atmosphere within a timeframe that ensures adequate adaptation, food production, and sustainable development.

Global cooperation

Since the scope of climate change is global, climate policy by necessity is developed and implemented at the international level.

On this scale, the United Nations Framework Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been instrumental in defining the general policy directions that will ensure the engagement of countries in effective mitigation and adaptation activities. Many of these activities have been spelled out as commitments under Articles 4 and 12 of this convention. Other policy areas are directed towards supporting research and systematic observation (Article 5), and promoting education, training, and public awareness (Article 6).

The Kyoto Protocol, which was adopted by the UNFCCC's Conference of the Parties (COP) in 1997 and is currently awaiting ratification, sets specific targets and timetables for meeting these emissions targets. Upon ratification, the Protocol would require developed countries (historically the biggest contibutors of GHGs) to reduce their emissions in 2008 to 2012 by an average of about 5.2% below that of 1990 levels. The Protocol would also set into motion market mechanisms like emissions trading, joint implementation and the clean development mechanism to enable compliance of developed countires with their emission targets while at the same time enhancing clean and sustainable development in developing countries.

Regional groups, like the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are likewise setting into motion policies that would promote regional cooperation in tackling climate change.

The implementation of global and regional climate policy can be effective only insofar as it can be translated ultimately to the national and local level. The development of a national or local climate policy necessarily takes into account the overlaps that occur in complementary environmental policy initiatives, such as the Philippine Clean Air Act, the Clean Water bill, the Renewable Energy bill, the Solid Waste Management Act, forest policies and regulations, biodiversity, and the like.) It should likewise consider the geographic differences in climate impacts and vulnerability, as well as the resources needed by communities to address these.

National and local action plans on climate change adaptation and emissions reduction have been initiated.