“With natural disasters exacerbating the loss of biodiversity and wreaking havoc on crisis-stricken communities, causing property damage and loss, and jeopardising livelihoods and the safety of the people, climate justice compels us to face this disparity and work towards a fair and equitable solution.” writes Noel D. Raboy, CEO and President at ICMIF member CLIMBS (the Philippines).
At the time of writing, Noel and CLIMBS Chairperson Fr. Elmo Manching are leading a delegation from the organisation to the COP28 World Climate Action Summit in Dubai where they will advocate for the collective action and important role of cooperatives in climate action initiatives. Our thanks to Noel for his permission to share this blog with other ICMIF members.
In the context of declaring a climate emergency, the cooperative sector has been one of the quick responders when it comes to mitigating the adverse effects of the consequences brought on by climate change. With natural disasters exacerbating the loss of biodiversity and wreaking havoc on crisis-stricken communities, causing property damage and loss, and jeopardising livelihoods and the safety of the people, climate justice compels us to face this disparity and work towards a fair and equitable solution.
CLIMBS Life and General Cooperative, which started as a mutual benefit association in 1971, has continued to double its efforts and initiatives by focusing on community-based solutions. Building local resilience can help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events and erratic weather conditions. CLIMBS has also supported its member cooperatives in promoting sustainable agriculture, fostering green and renewable energy, waste management, and helping transportation cooperatives that are seeking solutions to reduce carbon emissions.
For the first time, CLIMBS will be at the COP28 in Dubai this year advocating for the collective action and important role of cooperatives in climate action initiatives. We are extremely delighted to be part of this year’s COP28, since this event will drive more opportunities, bring ideas to life, discover innovations, and generate fresh new perspectives from visionary thinkers and leaders all around the world– all of whom are committed to mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. I believe that this event will have a lasting impact on our organisation and will cascade down to the grassroots level. This also signifies that there is hope, and that we are more than just bystanders and onlookers in our own planet– this means that we are taking ownership and acting with urgency for a more sustainable future for the next generations.
With its primary goal of raising awareness of environmental issues and promoting the nation’s agricultural industry, CLIMBS also complies with the universal cooperative principles 6 and 7, Cooperation among cooperatives and Concern for community, by organising local initiatives like tree-planting or mangrove-growing campaigns, community coastal clean-ups, and the implementation of sustainable practices and no-plastic policies.
The rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns have made it difficult for Filipino farmers to produce food and continue their standard means of livelihood. Hence, with the support of the InsuResilience Solutions Fund (ISF), CLIMBS’ enhanced Weather Protect Insurance project has reached its third year and has successfully onboarded 181 cooperatives this year, up from five in the pilot stage and now covering 84,434 farmers, reaching 422,170 households across 80 provinces in the Philippines (as of 30 November 2023).
CLIMBS has also upheld its commitment to contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 13 and 17, Climate Action, and Partnerships for the Goals, as well as its partnership with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and Insurance Commission (IC) in the Philippines, which recently approved drought coverage as falling under the additional features of Weather Protect Insurance. CLIMBS also continues its efforts and global collaboration with the Climate Change Commission (CCC), the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), and ICMIF.
This calls for immediate action by working together to demonstrate mutuals and cooperatives’ collaborative efforts towards the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13: Climate Action. My organisation also aims to advocate for support for future plans and utilise network and support resources like premium subsidies, technical assistance facilities, and the likelihood of expanding and improving its ongoing initiatives.
As part of our contribution to the ICA’s Cooperatives for 2030 agenda and the Philippines’ National Determined Contributions, CLIMBS also recently hosted its Second Coop Climate Summit 2023 in collaboration with the Cooperative College of the Philippines and the National Federation of Cooperative Primaries (NaFeCoop), and with the support of the Philippine Cooperative Chamber (PCCI). The event welcomed over 300 key stakeholders in Manila, Philippines from the local and international level all of whom were committed to mitigating the ongoing risks and challenges posed by climate change.
Moving forward, CLIMBS will form worldwide partnerships in both the public and private sectors with a variety of stakeholders, including enterprises, governments, and non-profit organisations. With the purpose of attaining common objectives, overcoming challenges, and utilising each organisation’s capabilities by unifying every cause, building disaster-resilient communities, and empowering voices for climate justice.
