Reminding people about Climate Change

CHEERS TO Aksyon for reminding Filipinos of the Philippines’ vulnerability to climate change, and what can be done to make the country more resilient.

Aksyon reported on April 15 that “According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the highest sea level rise in the world (has been) recorded in the Philippines—60 cm since 1901, while the global average is only  19 cm.

“Add to that stronger typhoons due to Global Warming and the possibility of some islands to sink here in the Philippines.”

The report also said the fastest rate of sea level rise is also  in the Philippines. “The sea level is rising now at 1.2 cm per year in the Philippines compared to the global average of 3.2 mm. It’s about three to four times faster,” said WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud.

The report added that 16 cities in the country are not ready for the effects of climate change, according to a study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and BPI Foundation. The study suggested that local governments  address the  effects of strong rains such as flooding.

GMA News Online also reported the study and discussed the findings for the four cities added to the study last year; namely, Butuan, General Santos City, Puerto Princesa, and Santiago (“16 PHL cities assessed for climate change vulnerability,” April 14 )

WWF-Philippines Vice President for Conservation Programs Joel Palma said we should have an “honest to goodness land use plan,” while architect and urban planner Jun Palafox said there should be a change in the way we build houses and other infrastructure in flood-prone areas. Citing what happened to Yolanda-stricken communities, he said livable spaces should be at least 1 to 2 meters above the highest flood  levels. “Let’s see what happened in Tacloban, Yolanda corridor, if the highest flood level was 8 meters, there should be no bedrooms below 8 meters,” Palafox said.

The Philippines is one of the  countries most vulnerable to climate change, ranking third among global disaster risk hot spots in the 2012 World Risk Report and ninth in the Maplecroft Climate Change Vulnerability Index 2014. The country was also listed as one of the most affected by natural hazards by the development and environmental group Germanwatch in the Global Climate Risk Index 2015.

World leaders are set to meet in Paris this year for the United Nations Climate Change Conference.