Bohol partners with ICSC on

climate smart development

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)—Forced by circumstance to keep the island in the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list of global geoparks, Bohol’s responsibility of safeguarding its environment, geology and culture finds a partner in a non-government organization into climate and sustainable cities.

Enlisting all the help it can get, Bohol signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) to collaborate in addressing the climate crisis through the institutionalization of the Enhanced Local Climate Change Action Plan (ELCCAP) in the next three years.

The MOU establishes the framework for collaboration between ICSC and Bohol to advance clean, affordable, reliable and secure energy systems while promoting community welfare through inclusivity and sustainability, according to ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos Dela Cruz.

In May of 2022, Bohol got enlisted in the UNESCO elites by becoming a global geopark, a credit Bohol keeps until it can keep its environment as pristine and its geography practically ‘untouched’, which is a huge responsibility knowing that it is the entire island that we need to sustain and conserve, caps Mary Lou Regis, Bohol’s geoparks IEC team member.

“The biggest challenge then is, with communities built right in the midst of these geoparks, how do you keep the environment not feel the impact of human habitation?” participants ask during a briefer with Capitol employees.

Since Bohol opted to become an eco-cultural tourism destination with a strong climate smart agriculture and industries, things become a little clearer for Boholanos who aim to help in retaining its geopark status.

In its intent to speed up its transition towards climate smart technologies in low-carbon solutions, data-driven research, capability development initiatives and greenhouse gas inventories, Bohol aims to also pitch in to the national objectives of energy security enhancements, climate resilience and economic growth, while edging in its perch as a global geopark.

And as Bohol steps off toward local climate action plan development and energy planning towards the transition to renewable energy, the ICSC gives technical assistance on eLCCAP development and greenhouse gas emissions inventory, widen sustainable transport options outside of Tagbilaran, support the firming up of the local energy plan and heps spread awareness on renewable energy mechanisms.

On the other hand, Bohol oversees the implementation of training for greenhouse gas inventories, manage urban development and eco-friendly transport systems, convene renewable energy stakeholders to coordinate and harmonize local efforts towards the goal and support the local energy plan development including the installation of solar panels on public infrastructure. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES. With ICSC, Bohol signs the MOU with an NGO that would allow its access to training and technology transfers in managing local development that looks at climate adaptation technologies to sustain local development and defend its global geoparks status. (PIABohol)