In alignment with its comprehensive Sustainability Strategy, the Gokongwei Group supported a recent climate change forum organized by the National Academy of Science and Technology and The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service Foundation.
Held at Summit Hotel Tacloban on August 1, 2023, the Klima: Regional Assessment of Climate Risks and Vulnerabilities forum brought together various government agency officials from Regions 6, 7, and 8, university lecturers and students, and representatives from NGOs and the private sector to participate in discussions aimed at enhancing the resilience of vulnerable provinces to climate change and extreme weather events.
“There is still much to understand about how climate change hazards will affect various ecosystems, communities and sectors in the Philippines, especially at a variety of scales or resolutions that would help provide concrete science-based recommendations. What is heartening today are the diverse efforts of diverse people coming together for climate action, learning about each other’s approaches that hopefully will spur much needed collaborative and integrative efforts,” said Marine Science Institute professor Dr. Aletta T. Yñiguez, a TOWNS member and one of Asia’s Top 100 Scientists, according to Asian Scientist Magazine.
Following informative talks from TOWNS, NAST, and government agency representatives, a private sector panel provided feedback and best practices insights on climate change adaptation.
Our commitment to understanding and addressing climate risks extends not only to safeguarding our operations but also to bolster local resilience and well-being of the thriving communities we are a part of. - Yvonne Flores, Sustainability and CSR head of the Gokongwei Group
Joining Yvonne Flores, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility head of the Gokongwei Group, on the panel were Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, executive director of the Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation; Katrina Francisco, a partner at SGV Climate Change and Sustainability Services; Jo Eala, BPI vice president and Sustainability Office head; and Ellainne Muhal, quality assurance and quality control head of Victorias Milling Corporation’s Distillery Division.
In the forum, Flores shared the Gokongwei Group’s Climate Resiliency initiatives that include providing climate change adaptation support in communities where the group operates. “This year, we are closely examining how climate-related risks impact our facilities and the communities around them, leveraging advanced climate models. We believe that the insights we gain from this endeavor can provide valuable information that can be shared with communities to assist them in anticipating, preparing and responding to these challenges. Our commitment to understanding and addressing climate risks extends not only to safeguarding our operations but also to bolster local resilience and well-being of the thriving communities we are a part of,” said Flores. “Additionally, we want to see how our facilities and supply chains might be affected by different climate scenarios considering changes in temperature, wind, and precipitation in the future. This forward-thinking approach enables us to take pre-emptive measures to reduce the cost of climate impacts to our business while taking advantage of the opportunities in tackling this urgent global challenge.”
The Klima: Regional Assessment of Climate Risks and Vulnerabilities conference was held at Summit Hotel Tacloban on August 1, 2023, in Leyte.
According to Flores, the Gokongwei Group is taking proactive steps to investigate how changes in the regulation landscape and market conditions, driven by global low-carbon transitions, could impact its business environment. “All of this information will guide us as we develop and improve our strategies to manage and better respond to climate-related risks.”
The Gokongwei Group’s Sustainability framework is integrated into its strategic planning process, recognizing that it is crucial to the group’s future success. Its Sustainability Strategy involves five key focus areas – Climate Action, Employee Growth and Well-being, Resource Efficiency and Circularity, Shared Success, and Better Choices – with each of these geared toward achieving selected and aligned UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Apart from Robinsons Land’s Summit Hotels and Resorts, which provided the venue for the Klima conference in Leyte, other Gokongwei Group companies, including JG Summit Holdings, Cebu Pacific, and Go Hotels, provided logistical and other forms of support.
Following the success of the conference in Leyte, NAST and TOWNS will hold another Klima forum in Mindanao before the end of the year.
To learn more about JG Summit's ongoing Sustainability journey, visit jgsummit.com.ph/sustainability
