Philippines Calls for Climate Change Action
By Miraflor Anacio
A world wide protest of scientists last April 15 triggered once again the growing concern for climate change and global warming, as well as immediate calls for action to address the global issue.
In an international summit, the Philippines expressed its concern over climate change and global warming. The country was represented by Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert Borje in the said summit where he raised the concern that in order for developing countries like the Philippines to address the issue, there is a need for climate financing which is possible with responsible partnership with developed countries.
Call for Climate Financing
In the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Japan on April 22, Secretary Borje highlighted the immediate need for climate financing in countries like the Philippines.
“To this [global warming] end, we need climate financing. Make it more accessible and available. Unlock it for the developing world,”Borje stated.
He also mentioned that it is not a plea but an urgent call for responsible partnership, and that there is a need for it because most developing countries are occupied with issues citing effects of extreme weather and disasters.
The call of Secretary Borje was agreed by President Rodrigo Duterte. In his weekly address on April 18, he said that developed countries should compensate developing ones for the impact of their large carbon emissions, and are in fact the biggest contributors of carbon emissions while poorer countries like the Philippines bear the brunt of the impact of climate change.
“Why should we suffer? The rich who are not hit by the destruction caused by the pollution, they should pay us for the damage or they should do something to equalize. We sustain huge damage even if our contribution to climate change is small,” Duterte said.
International Call for Action
Recently, around 1000 scientists in 25 countries around the world called for climate action by staging a peaceful protest. They highlight the urgency and injustice of the climate and ecological crisis and thus the need for immediate actions and plans.
“We’ve been trying to warn you guys for so many decades … The scientists of the world have been being ignored. And it’s gotta stop. We’re going to lose everything.” Los Angeles scientists including Peter Kalmus, a NASA climate scientist with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory expressed.
Climate Change Action in the Philippines
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that there will be significant effects to the country if there is no climate change action.
According to PAGASA, climate change action is very crucial for the Philippines because without action and intervention, there are areas in the country that will be removed from the map. These areas include Pasay, Manila, Parañaque, Bulacan, Cavite, Samar, Mindanao, and several other places.
The extreme weather and climate change is also expected to worsen and become more observable.
