WWF-Philippines Unveils 15 Cities Qualified for One Planet City Challenge 2023-2024

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines has revealed the 15 qualified cities for the One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2023-2024, which is the flagship initiative of the One Planet Cities (OPC) Program. The announcement follows the official launch of OPCC 2023-2024 last March 30, during which several cities expressed their interest in joining the project.

Returning to OPCC 2023-2024 are the cities of Baguio, Davao, Dipolog, Legazpi, Makati, Muntinlupa, Ormoc, San Carlos (Negros Occidental), San Fernando (La Union), Santa Rosa, Tagum, and Zamboanga. Additionally, Catbalogan City and Naga City (Camarines Sur) have rejoined the program after their last participation in 2017-2018. The new city to complete the roster of this cycle is Puerto Princesa.

The OPCC aims to assist cities in developing effective climate mitigation and adaptation practices and to disseminate these practices globally. Participating cities will upload their local emissions, targets, plans, and climate actions, which will be evaluated using the OPCC’s Assessment Framework and scoring criteria. These criteria will focus on assessed GHG emissions and risks from climate change, mitigation targets and adaptation goals, climate action plans, implementation of strategies and actions, and results-based monitoring.

As part of the challenge process, WWF will review cities’ plans against good practice climate action planning criteria and assess whether their targets align with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to a maximum of 1.5 °C. The best-performing cities will then be put forward to an international jury of experts that chooses the national and global winners.

Each participating city will also receive a customized strategic feedback report that showcases the city’s climate journey and provides high-level action-based advice based on the latest IPCC report. This report includes an assessment of whether their city’s climate targets align with their fair share of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, whether mitigation actions align with main emissions sectors, and whether adaptation actions map effectively to climate risks.

WWF-Philippines, along with their technical partner ICLEI Southeast Asia, will guide the participating Philippines cities on their reporting to the CDP-ICLEI Track. A series of capacity-building workshops and consultations will be conducted to support the cities’ climate action and mitigation plans and their alignment towards the 1.5°C target.

“We truly appreciate the continued commitment of these city governments in leading the charge in addressing climate change and low-carbon development. Through their engagement in this initiative, we also aim to guide them in strengthening their local policies and action plans through data transparency, collaborative partnerships and community engagement.” said WWF-Philippines One Planet Cities Project Manager Imee Bellen.

Over the next two years, WWF-Philippines will work closely with the participating cities to assist them in acting as transformation catalysts by implementing integrated and inclusive plans in line with 1.5°C, ensuring urban resilience, and unlocking individual and collective climate actions. Other local activities are planned that will involve urban stakeholders such as youth, educators, private organizations, and city representatives.