The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the World Bank, successfully conducted the Training-Workshop on the Philippine Set of Climate Change Statistics and Indicators (PSCCSI) from 18 to 20 March 2025, at the PSA Headquarters, Quezon City.
 

OIC-ANS Pascasio with the Participants of the Training-Workshop on Climate Change Statistics and indicators 

The training-workshop aimed to identify a set of climate change statistics and indicators specifically tailored to the Philippine context, following the Global Set of Climate Change Statistics and Indicators (GSCCSI) framework. This initiative focused on fostering collaboration among agencies, identifying data gaps, and harmonizing methodologies for compiling climate data. 

Mr. Mark C. Pascasio, OIC-Assistant National Statistician of the PSA Macroeconomic Accounts Service, and Ms. Liliana Sousa, Senior Economist of the World Bank, delivered impactful and inspiring messages during the training-workshop. Their remarks underscored the critical role of evidence-based policymaking in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, highlighting the importance of reliable data in shaping effective strategies and solutions.

Mr. Francois Soulard and Dr. Gem Castillo were hired by the World Bank as consultants to lead the discussions and breakout sessions for each climate change thematic areas, namely: drivers, impacts, vulnerability, mitigation, and adaptation. During these sessions, participants worked together to assess data availability, evaluate and refine the indicators, and align them with national policy priorities. This collaborative effort ensured that the resulting indicators were coherent and well-suited to the specific needs of the Philippines.

A breakout session during the Training-Workshop on Climate Change Statistics and Indicators was facilitated by a World Bank consultant

Representatives from the Climate Change Commission, Department of Agriculture – Climate Resilient Agriculture Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Climate Change Service, and Department of Energy presented their respective agencies’ climate change-related statistics and indicators. The presentations created an interactive platform for identifying challenges, exploring opportunities, and fostering collaboration in data collection and integration processes. 

Moreover, the participants undertook a comprehensive Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis to examine key areas requiring improvement, identify potential opportunities for growth, and assess external risks in the development of the PSCCSI. The synthesis led by a representative of Environment and Natural Resources Accounts Division (ENRAD) highlighted the discussions on the various areas of climate change statistics and indicators, the challenges in data collection, as well as the recommended strategies to address these challenges and improve our climate data systems. In addition, Dr. Castillo outlined the next steps, including strengthening national capacity to align with the United Nations GSCCSI, compiling Climate Change Statistics and Indicators, enhancing collaboration between PSA and partner agencies, and identifying lead agencies to implement workshop outcomes. 

Participants engaging in discussions during the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats analysis segment of the Training-Workshop on Climate Change Statistics and Indicators

At the end of the three-day activity, the importance of robust climate data for informed decision-making was emphasized. The PSCCSI’s role in providing a data-driven understanding of climate change impacts, supporting resource allocation, and aiding long-term mitigation and adaptation planning was highlighted. The discussions throughout the workshop were vital in evaluating climate change indicators, addressing challenges, and sharing best practices to enhance climate data systems in the Philippines.

PSA Undersecretary Mapa joined by the World Bank Resource Speaker and Consultant during the Training-Workshop on Climate Change Statistics and Indicators

-  Macroeconomic Accounts Service, Sectoral Statistics Office