mongster's nest

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Coping with climate change

Scientists have predicted that there will be an average increase of +2 degrees Celsius in the world. In 2004, South Cotabato registered the third warmest year on record. Global warming, not terrorism, is the single biggest threat to the future of mankind. Are we aware of the negative impact of climate change to our local ecosystem?

Environmentalist group Greenpeace has a study which provides a detailed report on the vulnerabilities of Philippine provinces. Below are highlights of the report:

Global warming will lead to coral bleaching, sea level rise and extreme weather events such as long periods of drought and severe typhoons.

Coral bleaching will affect livelihood of more than a million fishers in the country. It will also destroy the country’s diverse marine ecosystem which is considered the second largest coral cover in the world.

A one meter rise in sea level is projected to affect 16 regions, 64 out of 81 provinces, at least 703 out of 1,610 municipalities, inundate almost 700 million square meters of land and threaten 36,289 kilometers of coastline. In Sulu, the vulnerable areas may reach up to 7,972.83 hectares. In Palawan, the land area at risk covers 6,428.16 hectares.

The Legazpi mudslide triggered by typhoon Reming was the second deadliest disaster of 2006 in the world. Six out of nine tragedies from 1991 to 2006 occurred at provinces which are highly at risk to typhoons and variability in precipitation. These provinces also have a high poverty incidence rating. Poor provinces are less prepared to cope with the harsh impacts of natural disasters.
In 2006, natural calamities affected eleven million Filipinos. Economic losses reached P20 billion. Assistance and donations amounted to 500 million while rehabilitation cost is P10 billion. Greenpeace is correct when it opined that “the true cost of tragedies is not limited to economic losses but also lives lost, families displaced and ecosystems damaged.”

Greenpeace is recommending adaptation and mitigation measures to avert the worst impacts of climate change. Adaptation measures include programs such as “comprehensive vulnerability assessment and hazard mapping, efficient disaster preparedness and management, modern forecasting capabilities and sustained programs to raise awareness.”

Greenpeace is calling for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in 2050. This means the Philippines must switch from fossil fuel dependence to renewable energy. Energy efficiency measures must be promoted. The Philippines’ wind power potential - 70,000 MW - can meet the country's current energy demand seven times over. Greenpeace claims that the energy from the sun that falls on half the land area of Quezon City can provide the power needs of the entire country for a day.

During her recent State of the Nation Address, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo vowed to push for renewable sources of energy. She mentioned the wind farm in Ilocos Norte but she also reported the construction of three coal-fired power plants in the country. The irony was not lost on worried environmentalists.

Policymakers need to tap clean sources of energy without compromising food sufficiency. Enactment of the Biofuels Law may reduce dependence on imported oil but it will also consume vast amounts of land which could have been used for food production. Government needs to harmonize food and energy needs of the country.

I laud the decision of the President to include climate change in school curriculum. But the President sent a wrong message to students by appointing politicians and bureaucrats in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Energy. Mayor Lito Atienza and General Angelo Reyes are not recognized for their expertise on environment and energy. The President’s allies in the Lower House also nominated Representatives Iggy Arroyo and Mikey Arroyo as committee heads of the environment and energy sectors. Is the President really aware of the urgency of the situation? Is she really concerned with the negative consequences of global warming? Or is she more eager on how her family and closest allies can profit from the environment crisis?

In the future, I believe we will have to vote for leaders who have theoretical and practical knowledge on how to adapt with the deteriorating state of our fragile environment. At present and in the next elections, we have to endure the false claims of leaders that they are prepared to handle the worst impacts of natural disasters.

Related entries:

Refugee nation
Oil spill
Green highways

posted by: mongpalatino at August 06, 2007 00:03 | link | comments (2) |
greens

Comments:

#1  14 August 2007 - 10:10

 

i'm glad you're interested in this. our group is working for the passage of the renewable energy bill, maybe i can give you updates in future in case you'd want to write about it? :)

rina

Anonymous

#2  16 October 2008 - 16:50

 

Nice presentation of the blog.
It is an informative blog....
Regards,
SBL - BPO Services

Anonymous

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