Bringing Climate Science Into Local Planning
BOHOL - The training provided local government representatives with practical skills for assessing how climate and disaster risks could affect their respective areas. Participants learned to work with IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) climate projections, exposure data, and spatial risk analysis to develop a more evidence-based understanding of potential hazards. Applying this information at the local level can help planners identify vulnerable areas and consider climate risks when preparing development programs, infrastructure plans, and disaster preparedness measures.
Including Communities in Risk Assessment
Climate and disaster risks can affect communities differently, making inclusive planning an important part of local resilience. The training incorporated Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles alongside technical risk assessment methods. Considering different community circumstances can help local governments identify groups that may face additional challenges during climate-related hazards and disasters. This approach encourages risk planning that considers not only physical exposure but also the different needs and capacities of people within communities.
Strengthening Resilience Through Better Decisions
The knowledge gained from the training can be applied to key local planning instruments, including Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), Comprehensive Development Plans (CDPs), Local Climate Change Action Plans (LCCAPs), and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plans (LDRRMPs). For the eight LGUs within the Loboc Watershed Ecosystem, incorporating climate and disaster information into these plans can help connect environmental protection, land-use decisions, disaster preparedness, and community development. Strengthening this technical capacity also supports Bohol’s wider efforts to build resilient communities while protecting the natural resources that form part of its UNESCO Global Geopark.
