ICSC reacts to 4th SONA: More urgent climate action needed, equip Filipinos to adapt
QUEZON CITY, July 29, 2025 – Responding to the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) calls for greater urgency in integrating climate action and more tangible climate-resilient solutions to the Philippines’ long-term strategies, ensuring optimal results and leading Filipinos towards better, sustainable development. In detail, ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said: “The call for accountability has been evident in this year’s SONA, as the President emphasized the importance for progress across all the government’s programs and the need for their impacts [...]
ICSC on World Court opinion: Climate finance should meet the scale of challenges faced by the most vulnerable
QUEZON CITY, July 24, 2025 –– The International Court of Justice (ICJ), informally known as the World Court, issued a landmark advisory opinion yesterday affirming that all States, especially major carbon-emitting countries and those with greater capacity, have legal obligations under international law to address climate change, protect ecosystems, and prevent foreseeable harm to other nations, particularly climate-vulnerable countries like the Philippines. The United Nations General Assembly, in 2023, adopted a resolution requesting for an advisory opinion from the ICJ on two questions: What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the environment? [...]
ICSC reacts to 3rd SONA: Invest in climate action as part of the country’s better development pathway
QUEZON CITY, 23 July 2024 – Following the third State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) called for the administration to truly prioritize and invest in climate action as part of the country’s better development pathway, including making climate finance available and accessible across all sectors and communities; accelerating the transition towards indigenous, renewable energy sources; and building safer, more inclusive infrastructure for public transport. In detail, ICSC Executive Director Angelo Kairos dela Cruz said: “We welcome the President's recognition of climate and energy as [...]
ICSC to MMDA: Removal of EDSA bicycle lanes derails progress
QUEZON CITY, April 25, 2024 – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced in an interview on Tuesday the possibility of removing bicycle lanes along EDSA, as the agency explores the potential establishment of exclusive motorcycle lanes in the highway through a study with the Department of Transportation (DOTr). While it is still being evaluated, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes argued that bicycle lanes in EDSA are underutilized, with an estimated 1,500 cyclists passing through daily compared to a total of 170,000 motorcycles on the highway every day. The MMDA, through its Bike Lane Program Office, conducted a year-long [...]
Barbados appointed as new presidency of Climate Vulnerable Forum
CVF move towards independence marks strong political will to advance ambitious climate action, ICSC stated DUBAI, December 5, 2023 – The Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), a group of 68 member countries highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, has announced Barbados to be its next presidency starting mid-2024 at the World Climate Action Summit on Transforming Climate Finance last December 1. The Summit was hosted by this year’s United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In the same event, former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed was also appointed as the first Secretary-General of the CVF, following the [...]