Commentary: Will local actions matter in the global effort on climate change?
In the case of climate change, doing the right thing may be in our best interest as far as energy policy and economic development are concerned......»»
Developing countries urged to diversify production, export markets
Regional trade as well as South–South trade can provide a significant opportunity for developing countries to diversify their production and export basket, according to the United Nations’ trade and development body. “Given the new industrial policy initiatives being adopted in advanced countries, which may shorten their existing supply chains, developing countries will need to look for new outlets to diversify their export markets,” the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development said in its Trade and Development Report 2023. The report said that since 1995, South–South merchandise trade has grown faster than global trade and faster than North–South trade. In 2022, South–South trade accounted for around 54 percent of South’s total trade. It has also grown steadily in food, fuel, ores and metals, and fertilizers, with many developing countries, including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand playing major roles, it said. Critical role To further boost South–South trade cooperation, the Global System of Trade Preferences initiative of UNCTAD can play a critical role by providing an opportunity to negotiate tariff reductions among developing countries in products based on mutual preferences, among others. GSTP is an agile partnership framework that allows its members to take a variety of cooperative actions in the area of tariffs, para-tariffs, non-tariff measures, direct trade measures and sectoral arrangements. Citing earlier reports, UNCTAD said GSTP can also support a just green transition in the developing countries by focusing on green products and facilitating green technology transfers. Apart from South–South trade, the report said regional integration programs such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, to the extent they support diversification and the benefits are broadly shared, can also mitigate the negative effects of the current situation, including with respect to climate change and food insecurity. Rollercoaster ride UNCTAD’s Trade and Development Report 2023 said that after experiencing a rollercoaster ride in 2020 — 2022, global trade is forecast to grow about 1 percent in 2023, significantly below world economic output growth, with merchandise trade hovering in negative territory. The post Developing countries urged to diversify production, export markets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Hurricane causes 27 deaths, severe damage in Mexico’s Acapulco
Hurricane Otis caused at least 27 deaths and major damage as it lashed Mexico's resort city of Acapulco as a scale-topping category 5 storm, officials said Thursday, in what residents called a "total disaster." Otis crashed into Acapulco with furious winds of 165 miles (270 kilometers) per hour, shattering windows, uprooting trees and largely cutting off communications and road links with the region. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador arrived at the scene late Wednesday, after his convoy found roads blocked by landslides and other debris, forcing officials to abandon their vehicles and walk part of the way. Some residents slogged for hours through mud and debris in an attempt to find food and shelter. "Acapulco is a total disaster. It is not what it was before," said 24-year-old Eric Hernandez, who decided to leave on foot. "The shops had all been looted, people were fighting for things. So we decided to walk as there wasn't anything left there," he said. Others said an overflowing river and collapsed bridges had cut off communities near Acapulco, home to about 780,000 people. "People were left homeless, there's no electricity," said Israel Perez, a 21-year-old baker. Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez told a news conference Thursday that 27 people were dead and four were missing. Three of those unaccounted for were soldiers, Lopez Obrador said after returning to Mexico City. He described the storm as "disastrous" and said that it was only thanks to the actions of people who sought shelter that there were no more deaths. The government would begin an airlift to deliver aid and materials to the region, Lopez Obrador said. Telephone communications began to resume while the main highway from Mexico City to Acapulco was reopened. Like an earthquake Otis rapidly intensified within hours from a tropical storm to the most powerful category of the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale before hitting land, taking authorities by surprise. "It's unprecedented in the country in recent times, not only because of the way it strengthened so quickly but also the magnitude of the hurricane," Lopez Obrador said. People recounted a terrifying ordeal as Otis made landfall overnight Tuesday-Wednesday, causing major structural damage. "The building shook as if there was an earthquake," Citlali Portillo, a tourist accommodation manager, told the television channel Televisa, adding that she had taken shelter in a bathtub. The storm overturned vehicles and even left a car in the lobby of a luxury hotel, surrounded by broken glass and debris. Soldiers worked to clear the streets of mud and fallen trees. Some residents were seen taking food, water, and other goods from looted stores. Hurricanes hit Mexico every year on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts, usually between May and November, though few make landfall as a Category 5. In October 1997, Hurricane Pauline hit Mexico's Pacific coast as a Category 4 storm, leaving more than 200 people dead, some of them in Acapulco. It was one of the deadliest hurricanes to batter Mexico. In October 2015, Patricia became the most powerful hurricane ever recorded, pummeling Mexico's Pacific coast with sustained winds of 200 miles per hour. But the storm caused only material damage and no deaths as it made landfall in a sparsely populated mountainous area. Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change. The post Hurricane causes 27 deaths, severe damage in Mexico’s Acapulco appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
5 climate change adaptation projects worth P540.3M given the nod
The People’s Survival Fund Board approved at least five climate change adaptation projects, endorsed by the Climate Change Commission amounting to P540.3 million, geared toward increasing the adaptive capacity of local government units to climate change adaptation. Robert E.A. Borje, the CCC Vice-chairperson and executive director, welcomed the latest development in the country’s fight against climate change. “The PSF Board’s approval of these five projects signals a pivotal message on the value of advancing adaptation measures at the local and community level, especially at a time when risks and challenges posed by climate change demand immediate and urgent actions,” he underscored. Borje cited Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, the PSF board chairperson, for his leadership and commitment to advancing the objectives of the survival funds. “I also thanked the PSF Board members for their sustained effort and collaboration throughout the review and evaluation, and field validation exercises, which led to CCC endorsement and PSF Board’s project approvals,” he said. The submissions of LGUs from the PSF Board-issued Call for Proposals from February to April 2023 are included in the five projects. Borje said adaptation interventions to be implemented by LGUs include the establishment of climate field schools for farmers, flood protection, river ecosystem management, installation of solar-powered pumps, and mangrove rehabilitation. “With the benefits to be provided by these projects, the PSF will be able to demonstrate effective and sustainable practices on local climate actions, championing the resilience of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change,” he added. The PSF Board approved a Php 2-million Project Development Grant or PDG for the Municipality of Besao, Mountain Province to undertake project preparatory activities such as hydrological and geotechnical studies to establish the rationale of the LGU’s adaptation intervention. The projects’ approval enabled 17 LGUs to receive support from the PSF and its PDG. Among the previously approved projects are from Lanuza, Surigao del Sur; Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte; Gerona, Tarlac; Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte; Sarangani Province; and San Francisco, Camotes Island, Cebu. Borje noted that the CCC, in coordination with the Department of Finance, is working on further streamlining the accession of PSF through enhancement of the processes entailed by project proposals from submission until the approval stage. The PSF was institutionalized in 2012, through the Republic Act 10174, which amends the Climate Change Act of 2009—to include the provision of long-term finance streams to enable the government to effectively address the problem of climate change. It aims to enhance the resilience of communities and ecosystems to climate change. The CCC is likewise mandated to conduct the Climate Rationale Review and Evaluation or CRRE of project proposals submitted for PSF, convening the National Panel of Technical Experts to look into the climate rationale of projects. The CRRE process takes into consideration the historical and present data, ensuring that projects are fit-for-purpose and responsive to specific climate risks and vulnerabilities of an LGU. The post 5 climate change adaptation projects worth P540.3M given the nod appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl, Thailand vow closer collaboration on environmental conservation
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga on Thursday said her department is reinforcing diplomatic ties with Thailand in advancing maritime and ecological management and protection. Loyzaga said she met with Tull Traisorat, Ambassador of Thailand to the Philippines, to explore areas of cooperation, capacity-building, and knowledge-sharing with regard to sustainability, greening highly urbanized areas, and natural resources conservation. The DENR chief and the Thai envoy both agreed to push forward with the Strategic Action Programme for the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, a $15-million project of the United Nations Environment Programme that aims to reduce coastal and marine environmental degradation in the region. Aside from Thailand and the Philippines, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, and Vietnam are also part of the ongoing program. It is the only agreed common vision among the participating countries on targets and actions for reversing environmental degradation trends in the South China Sea. Other points discussed covered regional environmental projects in the pipeline that address the management of marine protected areas, nature-based solutions to improve local community livelihoods and climate change adaptation, and the promotion of resource efficiency and circularity to reduce plastic pollution. On top of closer bilateral cooperation on sustainability and environmental conservation, the two Southeast Asians have committed to bolstering trade and investment as well as military ties. The post Phl, Thailand vow closer collaboration on environmental conservation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
UN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems
Melting glaciers, unbearable heat and space junk: a month before crunch climate talks in the United Arab Emirates, a UN report published Wednesday warns about irreversible impacts to the planet without drastic changes to connected social and physical systems. The Interconnected Disaster Risks Report identifies thresholds it calls "risk tipping points," defined as "the moment at which a given socioecological system is no longer able to buffer risks and provide its expected function" -- after which the risk of catastrophe increases significantly. It focuses on six areas that connect the physical and natural world with human society: accelerating extinctions, groundwater depletion, mountain glacial melt, space debris, unbearable heat and an "uninsurable" future. "As we indiscriminately extract our water resources, damage nature and biodiversity, and pollute both Earth and space, we are moving dangerously close to the brink of multiple risk tipping points that could destroy the very systems that our life depends on," said Zita Sebesvari, the report's lead author. For example: Underground water reservoirs represent an essential freshwater resource around the world and today mitigate half of the losses of agriculture caused by droughts, which are being exacerbated by climate change. But aquifers themselves are now depleting faster than they can be naturally replenished: Saudi Arabia has already crossed the groundwater risk tipping point while India isn't far behind. In the case of accelerating extinctions, the report highlights the cascading effects of extinctions throughout food chains. "The gopher tortoise, which is threatened with extinction, digs burrows that are used by more than 350 other species for breeding, feeding, protection from predators and avoiding extreme temperatures," the report said. If the gopher tortoise goes extinct, the gopher frog that helps control insect populations will likely follow, triggering effects throughout the entire forest ecosystem of the southeastern United States. Mountain glaciers that store vast amounts of freshwater meanwhile are melting twice as fast as they did in the past two decades. "Peak water" -- the point when a glacier produces its maximum amount of water runoff due to melting -- has been reached or is expected to be reached within the next ten years across small glaciers in Central Europe, Western Canada and South America. "The 90,000+ glaciers of the Himalayas, Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains are at risk, and so are the nearly 870 million people that rely on them," the report said. In the case of space junk, the report warns Earth's orbit is in danger of becoming so full of debris that a collision triggers a chain reaction that threatens humanity's ability to operate satellites -- including those that provide vital early warning monitoring against disasters. The report finds most solutions currently being implemented focus on delaying problems rather than genuinely addressing the root causes. "We need to understand the difference between adapting to risk tipping points and avoiding them, and between actions that delay looming risks and those that move us towards transformation," it said. The post UN report warns of catastrophic risks to Earth systems appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
CCC: CSOs crucial to pushing climate actions in Phl
The Climate Change Commission said collaborative efforts are crucial to pushing climate actions in the country. Secretary Robert E.A Borje, the CCC vice chair and executive director, pressed that promoting partnerships among stakeholders, particularly with the civil society organizations in the country, serves as huge contributors to building a resilient Philippines. “For climate change, no task is too big or too small. Participation in programs and activities, like tree and mangrove planting and coastal cleanups – when done together, simultaneously – can make a huge difference,” Borje underscored, during the commemoration of this year’s Social Development Week on Thursday, 19 October. Borje cited this year’s climate forum with the theme: “Facing the Impact of Climate Change on Sustainable Development,”—which was sponsored by the Caucus of Development NGO Networks also known as CODE-NGO, one of the country’s largest groups of CSOs in the country. The CODE-NGO is composed of 12 national and regional networks representing 1,600 non-government organizations, people’s organizations, and cooperatives nationwide. Borje said the CCC, under the guidance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has been able to establish and strengthen partnerships with various stakeholders, including CSOs, development partners, private sector, and local government units, to push the country’s goal of combatting climate change and its impact. The CCC also pushed its "Working to Empower Climate Action Network” or “WE CAN” program—tailored specifically for CSOs' collaboration with the government. “The Commission counts on your active involvement in this resilience-building effort. But we can do more if we continue to work together. The CCC champions advocacies where all of you can take part. May we continue to be part of the solution to this global governance challenge of our generation,” said Borje. “In the end, all our actions and initiatives will count as means to save lives, protect our livelihoods, and secure our future. As partners, sama-sama tayong magkaisa tungo sa isang bagong bansang matatag,” he pressed on. In the same event, Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga also emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and partnerships to push environmental advocacies in the country. “We aim for inclusive processes recognizing that every voice needs to be heard, and for partners to secure co-benefits and build resilience for a truly whole-of-society effort in addressing climate change,” said Loyzaga. The post CCC: CSOs crucial to pushing climate actions in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Aboitiz group leads coastal protection bid
The Aboitiz Foundation, Aboitiz Land, and the Communities Organized for Resource Allocation, or CORA, Foundation signed a memorandum of agreement on 13 September to further reinforce their commitment to protecting coastal ecosystems to ensure a cleaner, more sustainable future. The signatories include Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan, Aboitiz Land senior AVP of Legal and Corporate Affairs Atty. Misch Sta. Ana, and Cora Foundation founder and executive director Antoinette Taus. The partnership’s core objective is to unify the strengths and resources of Aboitiz Land, Aboitiz Foundation and Cora Foundation in implementing the “Coastal Clean Up 2.0” in Calubcub II, San Juan, Batangas, the host community of Aboitiz Land’s Seafront Residences. Ramping up ecology protection The Coastal Clean Up 2.0 includes the implementation of capacity development initiatives, as well as the information, education, and communication activities, focused on environmental protection. These efforts target not only the local host communities but also the other stakeholders, too. “With the enduring support of Aboitiz Foundation and CORA Foundation, we are excited to embark on the Coastal Clean Up 2.0 initiative at Seafront Residences. Our strides are bolstered by the expertise of CORA, an organization celebrated for efforts in coastal conservation,” Sta. Ana said. CORA Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to forging sustainable initiatives aimed at addressing pressing global issues including hunger, poverty, inequality and climate change. With a core emphasis on volunteerism, community involvement, and inclusiveness, CORA’s initiatives prioritize the empowerment of marginalized groups, educational institutions, women, and the younger generation. “Nothing can be done without partnerships and collaborations. So to us at CORA, we really feel that this journey is meant to be, and we hope that through this coastal cleanup, it will create the spark or the ripple effect towards so much more,” Taus, a movie artist, said. Meanwhile, Aboitiz Foundation president and COO Maribeth Marasigan emphasized the importance of caring for the environment and how our present actions have a direct impact on our future. The Aboitiz Foundation has been in partnership with the CORA Foundation since 2018, jointly driving the Clean Seas Pilipinas initiative, which focuses on sustainable waste management solutions. The post Aboitiz group leads coastal protection bid appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
G20 to the last mile
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. These two words capture a deep philosophy: The world is one family. This is an all-embracing outlook that encourages us to progress as one universal family, transcending borders, languages and ideologies. During India’s G20 presidency, this has translated into a call for human-centric progress. As one Earth, we are coming together to nurture our planet. As one family, we support each other in the pursuit of growth. And we move together toward a shared future — one future — which is an undeniable truth in these interconnected times. The post-pandemic world order is very different from the world before it. There are three important changes, among others. There is a growing realization that a shift away from a GDP-centric view of the world to a human-centric view is needed. The world is recognizing the importance of resilience and reliability in global supply chains. There is a collective call for boosting multilateralism through the reform of global institutions. Our G20 presidency has played the role of a catalyst in these shifts. In December 2022, when we took over the presidency from Indonesia, I had written that a mindset shift must be catalyzed by the G20. This was especially needed in the context of mainstreaming the marginalized aspirations of developing countries, the Global South and Africa. The Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, which witnessed participation from 125 countries, was one of the foremost initiatives under our presidency. It was an important exercise to gather inputs and ideas from the global South. Further, our presidency has not only seen the largest-ever participation from African countries but has also pushed for the inclusion of the African union as a permanent member of the G20. An interconnected world means our challenges across domains are interlinked. This is the midway year of the 2030 agenda and many are noting with great concern that the progress on SDGs is off-track. The G20 2023 Action Plan on Accelerating Progress on SDGs will spearhead the future direction of the G20 toward implementing SDGs. In India, living in harmony with nature has been a norm since ancient times and we have been contributing our share toward climate action even in modern times. Many countries of the global South are at various stages of development and climate action must be a complementary pursuit. Ambitions for climate action must be matched with actions on climate finance and transfer of technology. We believe there is a need to move away from a purely restrictive attitude of what should not be done, to a more constructive attitude focusing on what can be done to fight climate change. The Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy focus on keeping our oceans healthy. A global ecosystem for clean and green hydrogen will emerge from our presidency, along with a Green Hydrogen Innovation Center. In 2015, we launched the International Solar Alliance. Now, through the Global Biofuels Alliance, we will support the world to enable energy transitions in tune with the benefits of a circular economy. Democratizing climate action is the best way to impart momentum to the movement. Just as individuals make daily decisions based on their long-term health, they can make lifestyle decisions based on the impact on the planet’s long-term health. Just like Yoga became a global mass movement for wellness, we have also nudged the world with Lifestyles for Sustainable Environment. Due to the impact of climate change, ensuring food and nutritional security will be crucial. Millets, or Shree Anna, can help with this while also boosting climate-smart agriculture. In the International Year of Millets, we have taken millets to global palates. The Deccan High Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition is also helpful in this direction. Technology is transformative but it also needs to be made inclusive. In the past, the benefits of technological advancements have not benefited all sections of society equally. India, over the last few years, has shown how technology can be leveraged to narrow inequalities, rather than widen them. For instance, the billions across the world that remain unbanked, or lack digital identities, can be financially included through digital public infrastructure. The solutions we have built using our DPI have now been recognized globally. Now, through the G20, we will help developing countries adapt, build, and scale DPI to unlock the power of inclusive growth. That India is the fastest-growing large economy is no accident. Our simple, scalable and sustainable solutions have empowered the vulnerable and the marginalized to lead our development story. From space to sports, economy to entrepreneurship, Indian women have taken the lead in various sectors. They have shifted the narrative from the development of women to women-led development. Our G20 presidency is working on bridging the gender digital divide, reducing labor force participation gaps and enabling a larger role for women in leadership and decision-making. For India, the G20 presidency is not merely a high-level diplomatic endeavor. As the Mother of Democracy and a model of diversity, we opened the doors of this experience to the world. Today, accomplishing things at scale is a quality that is associated with India. The G20 presidency is no exception. It has become a people-driven movement. Over 200 meetings will have been organized in 60 Indian cities across the length and breadth of our nation, hosting nearly 100,000 delegates from 125 countries by the end of our term. No Presidency has ever encompassed such a vast and diverse geographical expanse. It is one thing to hear about India’s demography, democracy, diversity and development from someone else. It is totally different to experience them first-hand. I am sure our G20 delegates would vouch for this. Our G20 presidency strives to bridge divides, dismantle barriers, and sow seeds of collaboration that nourish a world where unity prevails over discord, where shared destiny eclipses isolation. As the G20 president, we had pledged to make the global table larger, ensuring that every voice is heard and every country contributes. I am positive that we have matched our pledge with actions and outcomes. The post G20 to the last mile appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
As typhoons hit, majority of Filipinos back gov t programs vs climate change — survey
A majority of Filipinos back stronger actions to counter the effects of climate change, a survey revealed, as typhoon onslaughts have continuously damaged properties and lives......»»
DENR renews call for multisector partnerships to achieve disaster resilience in Phl
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga renewed her call on the private and public sectors to forge stronger multi-stakeholder collaboration to implement risk-informed and inclusive actions that will enhance the country’s resilience. “The DENR is committed to supporting everyone in implementing informed and inclusive action and facilitating investments for climate and disaster resilience through multi-stakeholder partnerships. These partnerships have a vital role in playing and accelerating an integrated, inclusive, and transformative resilience agenda,” Loyzaga said. She emphasized that although the Philippines has made significant progress in the fields of disaster risk reduction and climate action, it still remains one of the most vulnerable countries to natural and man-made hazards, as well as the impacts of climate change. Citing the key findings of the Working Group II contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Loyzaga said it showed that the increases in the frequency and intensity of climate and weather extremes worldwide have had “widespread and pervasive effects on ecosystems, people, settlements, and infrastructure”. These climate change impacts have been attributed to human activities. The IPCC report further stated that with increased global warming, climate change threats to cities, communities, and critical infrastructure will increase significantly in the mid- and long-term, particularly in areas already exposed to high temperatures, near coasts, or with high vulnerabilities. She cited anew the importance of collaboration with the other members of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and all other sectors in the transformation towards adaptive and inclusive governance and resilient communities, in view of the linkage between human development, economic development, natural hazards, climate change, biodiversity, water, and health. "Our course of action must be unified and this can only be done by understanding the interdependence between our social, engineered, and natural systems. This interdependence has given rise to multiple and dynamic complexities, and we need to constantly balance our evidence-informed decisions, policies, and our actions," Loyzaga pointed out. "Leadership and governance are integral parts of resilience in building a system, and a network of decisions that lead to specific outcomes and impacts that we would all like to achieve," she added. As a testament to its continuing commitment to build disaster resiliency and environmental sustainability through multistakeholder partnerships, the DENR recently launched the latest initiatives under Project TRANSFORM (Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multistakeholder Engagement) in the municipality of Abucay and Balanga City in Bataan. Under Project TRANSFORM, The DENR will implement the Mangrove Adoption and Protection Project in Abucay in partnership with San Miguel Foundation Inc. and Samahan ng Mananahong ng Sitio Bakawan. Meanwhile, the same initiative in Balanga City is in partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and Tinig ng Mandaragat. Mangrove forests are natural barriers that reduce the force of incoming waves and storm surges and also serve as a breeding for fish, crabs, and other marine species. DENR’s Project TRANSFORM engages the whole of society in implementing initiatives to alleviate poverty, improve community resilience, and promote public-private partnerships. Pilot sites of Project TRANSFORM in Visayas are in Ormoc City, Leyte launched on 18 January, and in Luzon with the municipalities of Limay, Mariveles, and Orion in Bataan province on 9 May, followed by the municipalities Malimono, San Francisco, and Burgos in Surigao del Norte in Mindanao launched on 23 June The post DENR renews call for multisector partnerships to achieve disaster resilience in Phl appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR, UNDP other countries commits to Circular Economy through EPR
The Philippines produces 163 million plastic sachet packets, 48 million shopping bags and 45 million thin-film bags daily. Thirty-three percent of these are disposed of in landfills and dump sites, while 35 percent are leaked into the open environment and oceans. These are the primary reasons why the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 or Republic Act 11898 has been enacted to ensure full compliance of industries related to plastic use and production. Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga tackled this over the weekend during the launching of LOOPFORWARD, a joint undertaking between the DENR and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Pasay City. “The EPR Act institutionalized the extended producer responsibility mechanism as a practical approach to efficient waste management, focusing on waste reduction, recovery and recycling and the development of environment-friendly products that advocate the internationally-accepted principles on sustainable consumption and production, circular economy and producers’ full responsibility throughout the life cycle of their product,” Loyzaga said in her speech delivered in front of UNDP Resident Representative Selva Ramachandran, Japan, Germany, Spain, US and the European Union representatives along with EPR author Senator Cynthia Villar. "Climate and environmental risks make up the majority of global risks perception in the next decade. So thus we need sustained, concerted, and evidence-informed investments and actions to protect and enhance our natural ecosystem environmental protection for all the different ecosystems that we have from land and sea, and of course we know that environmental protection, our ecosystems, biodiversity and climate change are inextricably linked. A failure in one of these dimensions will cascade well into the other," Loyzaga explained. In the Philippine setting, she cited that 61,000 million metric tons of waste were generated daily. Between 12 to 24 percent of these are plastic waste in various forms. According to a World Bank study conducted in 2019, Loyzaga said, it was reported that around 70 percent of the material value of plastics is lost to the Philippine economy each year. "This is equivalent to roughly a value loss of $790 million to $890 million per year," Loyzaga further explained. "As a country, we are in pursuit of the right combination of science and technology, policy and practice. Locally and through our global partners we are trying to make this possible just as we are discovering the true value of our global capital. The science, engineering, technology and innovation that support circularity are within reach by tapping into expertise both nationally and internationally," she added. Ramachandran, on the other hand, said that while there was significant progress over the last century, the growth was accompanied by excessive abuse of resources and environmental degradation. “The 2023 Circularity Gap Report indicates that only 7.2 percent of the global economy is circular. The rising extraction and use of material has shrunk global circularity from 9.1 percent in 2018 to 7.2 percent in 2023. This leaves a significant circularity gap. The world almost exclusively relies on new materials, more than 90 percent of materials are either wasted, lost or remain unavailable for reuse for years,” Ramachandran said. He added that studies place the Philippines among the highest ocean plastic waste polluters globally. According to Ramachandran, the challenge at hand is how to leapfrog the implementation of EPR in the Philippines. “We can no longer afford to remain business-as-usual and only focus on downstream solutions. We challenge the obliged enterprises to put more focus on waste avoidance and reduction, including through product redesign to improve reusability, recyclability or retrievability, and employing reuse and refill strategies," the UNDP Resident Representative said. “LOOPFORWARD: Linking Opportunities and Partnerships Towards ,” campaign was launched for full compliance and effective implementation of the EPR Act of 2022 by industries and other entities through attainment of time-bound waste recovery targets. It highlights the relevance of the EPR concept and law, gain better understanding among its stakeholders, and convene and gain commitments from the country’s biggest private firms referred to as the “obliged enterprises” under the law. It also seeks to gather support and open possible areas for collaboration among national government agencies, local government units, and development partners. The EPR approach is practiced in many countries around the world. It focuses on waste reduction, recovery, and recycling, and the development of environment-friendly products that advocate the internationally-accepted principles of sustainable consumption and production, and the circular economy. The DENR is the lead implementer of the EPR law and the LOOPFORWARD campaign. The campaign is supported by the CCC and the governments of Germany, Spain, and the European Union under the NDC Support Project for the Philippines, as well as the Government of Japan through the Accelerating NDC through Circular Economy in the Cities Project. The post DENR, UNDP other countries commits to Circular Economy through EPR appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
QC, Pasig launch new initiatives
The local governments of Quezon City and Pasig City recently launched new initiatives that aim to make their streets more walkable, cyclable and environment-friendly. The said initiatives were launched through a memorandum of understanding signed by Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto. Funded by the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the Sparking Active Mobility Actions for Climate-friendly Cities aims to increase the role of active mobility in building resilient and safe transport systems, contribute to national emission reduction targets, and promote climate-friendly mobility behavior. The two cities were selected due to their strong commitment to promoting and supporting active transport (cycling or walking) based on their development plans and priorities and their capacity to inclusively implement the project in close collaboration with community stakeholders. Quezon City has been proactive in developing its bike lane plan in order to provide safer and more accessible cycling infrastructure for its residents. On the other hand, Pasig City has expanded its “People’s Streets” initiative which sees select roads being closed to vehicular traffic every Sunday to provide exclusive spaces for pedestrians and cyclists. The two cities also have dedicated offices for green and active transport initiatives, further underscoring their commitment to people-centric and sustainable transportation. Furthermore, both Quezon City and Pasig are partners of ICSC and the broader CSO network in the Bilang Siklista Project, a volunteer-driven initiative in 18 cities nationwide doing a manual count of people making daily trips on bicycles during commuter peak hours. Both are also members of ICLEI, a global network working with over 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Walking and cycling are often overlooked yet essential modes of transportation that offer greater environmental benefits than motorized vehicles. Motorized transport contributes to approximately 30 percent of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the Philippines, making it a significant contributor to air pollution in the country. Active mobility can potentially reduce 3.46 million tons of emissions in highly urbanized cities while contributing to public health, equity and green socio-economic recovery. With the SPARK project, these cities further reinforce their existing commitments to promote and enable active transport. The SPARK project aims to catalyze innovation and progress through the application of tactical urbanism, a community-driven short-term action that involves the use of quick, small-scale, and often informal interventions to improve the urban environment and test out new ideas before implementing larger and more permanent changes and open-data. The concerted effort is expected to bring about tangible and lasting improvements in promoting cycling and walking as viable and legitimate means of transportation, contributing to healthier and liveable communities, the LGU said. ICLEI and Quezon City have previously worked together in various climate action-related projects including the Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network, Circle Lab for Cities and the One Planet City Challenge. Meanwhile, ICLEI and Pasig City have recently worked together on Ambitious City Promises, Building Efficiency Accelerator and the One Planet City Challenge, among others. The post QC, Pasig launch new initiatives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A sweaty robot may help humans understand impact of soaring heat
What happens to the body when a human gets heatstroke? How can we protect ourselves in a warming planet? To answer these burning questions, Arizona researchers have deployed a robot that can breathe, shiver, and sweat. The southwestern state's capital Phoenix is currently enduring its longest heat wave in history: on Friday, the mercury exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) for the 22nd day in a row, an ominous demonstration of what's to come in a world impacted by climate change. For humans, such heat represents a potentially lethal threat, one that is still not fully understood. But for ANDI -- a one-of-a-kind humanoid robot at Arizona State University -- it's a lovely day out. "He's the world's first outdoor thermal mannequin that we can routinely take outside and ... measure how much heat he is receiving from the environment," mechanical engineering professor Konrad Rykaczewski told AFP. ANDI is "a very realistic way to experimentally measure how a human person responds to extreme climate" without putting people themselves at risk, Rykaczewski says. At first glance, ANDI -- which stands for Advanced Newton Dynamic Instrument -- resembles a simple crash-test dummy. But its epoxy/carbon fiber skin conceals a treasure trove of technology, such as a network of connected sensors that assess heat diffused through the body. ANDI also has an internal cooling system and pores allowing it to breathe and sweat. There are 35 independent thermal zones and, like humans, the robot -- which cost more than half a million dollars to build -- sweats more from its back. Until now, only a dozen or so mannequins of this type existed, and none of them could venture outdoors. They were mainly used by sports equipment manufacturers to test their technical clothing in thermal chambers. Hyperthermia, a 21st-century condition Researchers hope the robot will provide a better understanding of hyperthermia -- that is, when a body overheats, a condition that is threatening a growing proportion of the world's population as a result of global warming. For obvious ethical reasons, "nobody measures core temperature increase while somebody's getting heatstroke," says Rykaczewski. But the effects of heat on the human body are still not fully comprehended. ANDI gives researchers a chance to understand. Accompanied by MaRTy (Mean Radiant Temperature), a mobile weather station that measures the heat reflected by the buildings around it, the robot is taking its first steps outside in Phoenix -- an ideal laboratory in which to prepare for tomorrow's climate. "How do we change what we wear? How do we change our behavioral patterns, and adjust them to temperatures that are of this order of magnitude?" says Rykaczewski. Andi is also infinitely reprogrammable. The research team can make "digital twins of the mannequin to look at different segments of the population," explains Jennifer Vanos, a climatologist involved in the project. For example, the older you get, the less you sweat. Young people will need different protection from athletes or people in poor health. With ANDI, scientists can simulate the thermoregulatory mechanisms specific to each individual. Phoenix, test lab for the future They can also test the robot in a variety of situations. For example, Phoenix is dry -- what about humid heat? How does the human body cope in hot winds? Their research will be useful for designing heat-resistant clothing, rethinking urban planning and protecting the most vulnerable. In Phoenix, which opens dozens of cooling centers for the homeless every summer, their findings could guide the actions of social workers. "How long should a person stay in a cooling center to cool off, so that their core temperature goes down to a level that's safe again? We can answer that question with Andi," says Vanos. The team also dreams of developing low-cost sensors to be used on building sites to adjust working hours according to the heat actually felt on site and the health of the workers -- rather than based on general weather conditions. That could be a "step towards better safety than just these blank recommendations per city, per state, per country," Rykaczewski says. Such specific, tailored solutions could have global impacts, redrawing entire cities. "If the future of Paris looks like Phoenix now, we can learn a lot about how do we design buildings," says Rykaczewski. The post A sweaty robot may help humans understand impact of soaring heat appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Yellen to visit China, raising need to ‘responsibly manage’ ties
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is set to visit Beijing this week, the United States said Sunday, marking the second trip by a cabinet official to China since ties between the world's top two economies deteriorated earlier this year. Yellen is expected to discuss with her counterparts the importance for both countries "to responsibly manage our relationship, communicate directly about areas of concern, and work together to address global challenges," said the Treasury Department in a statement. Yellen's planned July 6-9 trip comes just weeks after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met China's top leader President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Beijing in June. Blinken was the highest-ranking US official to visit the Chinese capital in nearly five years, and Xi said on the rare trip that he saw headway in the strained relationship between Washington and Beijing. In Beijing, Yellen will discuss how the United States views its economic relationship with China, a senior Treasury official said Sunday. She will meet with senior Chinese officials and leading US firms, the American spokesperson said without providing specifics. While the US seeks to secure its national security interests and protect human rights, actions to this effect are "not intended to gain economic advantage over China," the official added. Washington also looks towards "healthy" ties with Beijing and does not seek to decouple the economies, while pursuing cooperation on urgent challenges like climate change and debt distress, the American official said. The United States does not expect "significant breakthrough" from this initial trip, but it does aim to build longer-term channels of communication with China, the Treasury official added. - Restarting engagement - "I think the US government is clearly trying to put some floor under the deterioration of the economic relationship," Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) told AFP, speaking on the Treasury secretary's intentions to visit China. A Yellen trip could "restart a steady pattern of engagement at lower levels," he said, adding that the US has shifted from being ambiguous about how far it was supporting decoupling to explicitly adopting a strategy of "derisking" instead. This means "focusing on a narrower range of items that have strategic importance, trying to build fences around those items, but otherwise trying to continue to nurture a reasonably robust US-China economic relationship," Alden said. But observers do not expect a quick resolution to tensions. President Joe Biden's administration is considering a program to restrict certain US outbound investments involving sensitive technology with key national security implications -- an issue that has riled Chinese officials. Other possible sticking points include amendments to China's anti-espionage law which recently broadened the definition of spying while banning the transfer of information relating to national security -- a move that has spooked foreign and domestic businesses. The senior Treasury official told reporters Sunday that Washington intends to communicate its concerns over the law. While significant disagreements may not be resolved in a single trip, the US seeks to deepen and increase the frequency of communication with China and to "stabilize the relationship," avoiding miscommunication and expanding collaboration where possible, the official said. - Global growth, debt problems - For the US, discussions with officials from the world's second biggest economy "are important to help spur stronger global economic growth and to tackle the mounting debt problem of the Global South," said Wendy Cutler, vice president at the Asia Society Policy Institute, discussing a prospective Yellen visit. On Beijing's part, officials are "looking for concrete steps taken by the US to show that 'decoupling' and holding back China is not the ultimate goal of the United States," Cutler added. But despite US policies that have drawn ire from Beijing, officials likely have an awareness of China's continued export dependence and the importance of the US market, CFR's Alden said. "I think that there's a growing awareness in Beijing that China also needs to play a role in nurturing this economic relationship with the United States, because it's simply too important to China as well," he added. Washington and Beijing recently have clashed over trade, human rights and other issues. Relations came under further stress this year when the United States shot down a Chinese balloon it said was used for surveillance -- a claim China strongly denied. But Blinken's reception in Beijing has been seen as a symbolic sign of lowering temperatures. bys/mlm/dw © Agence France-Presse The post Yellen to visit China, raising need to ‘responsibly manage’ ties appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Exec warns vs. alarming risks fueled by climate change
Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert EA Borje warned the public of the alarming impacts of the climate change crisis, noting that some 40 areas across the country were considered as “most vulnerable” to weather extremes phenomenon. In a media interface held Friday night at Malacañan Compound in San Miguel, Manila, Borje emphasized the need to improve the country’s climate action plans to achieve sustainability and resiliency on the continuing risks brought by climate change. “The climate crisis is alarming not just in the Philippines but in the entire world,” he said. Borje cited that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has already identified the climate change phenomenon “as an existential threat.” “When it's an existential threat, that means that lives are already on the line…But it becomes more alarming for countries like the Philippines because we are a developing country, we are an archipelago and we are situated where we are,” he explained. Recognizing these impacts, Borje the government has devoted an entire chapter in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 to climate change and disaster resiliency. In fact, the Philippines has allocated USD 8.2 billion, or 9 percent of its total national budget, for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs this year. Despite being “on the right path” in addressing climate change, Borje said the Philippines “can always do better” to reduce and mitigate the impacts of “historic, global and systemic” phenomenon. “The government is implementing various programs, but it needs to boost and strengthen its efforts because of the shifts in the nature of challenges brought about by climate change),” he said, partly in the vernacular. “We can always do better. Always. I'm not saying that it is not enough. We can always do better. Because I think, whenever we've done something, it is automatic that the benchmark for the government and the people become higher,” he further stressed. Borje bared that the CCC is in close coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to assist the 40 areas that are at risk of climate disaster. Of the total, 35 of these are “for assessment.” Borje did not identify the 40 highly-vulnerable areas but noted that the DILG was in charge of identifying them and that they are now focusing on the whole-of-government approach to mitigate the risks of the climate change phenomenon. “The CCC and the DILG aim to make sure that 100 percent of the local government units nationwide are implementing their respective Local Climate Change Action Plans,” he said. Based on the CCC data, the LCCAP submissions increased by 95 percent from 715 submissions in 2021 to 1,397 as of 31 December 2022. The Commission targets 100 percent compliance from 1,715 LGUs by Fiscal Year 2024. The LCCAP, which serves as the LGU’s plan for enhancing local climate resilience, includes information on fit-for-purpose climate actions anchored on site-specific risks and vulnerabilities. The post Exec warns vs. alarming risks fueled by climate change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl elected co-chair of world forum on carbon issues
The Philippines was elected co-chair of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches, an initiative to assess the impacts of national mitigation interventions on global greenhouse gas emissions. The Philippines’ Climate Change Commission Secretary Robert E.A. Borje will sit as co-chair, along with Switzerland’s Martin Baur and Chile’s Maria Jose Garcia. Serving as co-chair presents new opportunities to further strengthen international cooperation on climate action between developing and developed nations. The announcement was made during the first IFCMA Steering Group Meeting on 13 June 2023. “The Philippines welcomes the OECD’s invitation to be part of the IFCMA, and election as co-chair. Under IFCMA, the Philippines will work to ensure that this will serve as a more focused venue for interaction among and cooperation between countries toward practicable and pragmatic partnerships to fast-track higher impact and cost-effective climate change mitigation actions,” Borje said. The Philippines is the only middle-income nation among Asia-Pacific countries in the Steering Group (which includes Japan and Singapore) and to be elected co-chair. Earlier in February, the Philippines participated in the IFCMA inaugural meeting in Paris, France. IFCMA aims to assess national carbon mitigation approaches’ impact on global emissions, a project that will run from 2023 to 2025. Borje was joined by Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and representatives from the Philippine Embassy in Paris, France. During the meeting, the Philippines underscored that the development of a collective and inclusive strategy on global carbon emission reduction efforts is crucial, in response to the needed “deep, rapid and sustained emissions reduction” emphasized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Also aimed at enhancing international cooperation, the IFCMA will develop a global, comprehensive and systematic stocktake of countries’ policies, programs and projects on climate change mitigation, to undergo impact assessment on national and global emissions. The Philippines is one of the IFCMA’s Project Associates and a pilot country candidate expected to provide data on climate change mitigation-related policies, programs and projects. In turn, it will benefit and learn from a range of carbon mitigation approaches from various countries in different regions. The post Phl elected co-chair of world forum on carbon issues appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davao Oriental hastens resilience-building efforts
DAVAO CITY — In a bid to accelerate resilience-building efforts at the local level for the coming years, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental officially adopted the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities against Disasters and Climate Change or SHIELD program. Davao Oriental Information officer Karen Lou Deloso revealed that the province is set to implement the program in a six-year term until 2028, focusing to assist local communities in becoming more resilient to natural catastrophes and the impacts of climate change by promoting cooperation among various stakeholders, opening up opportunities for financing, and putting forward risk-informed and inclusive resilience measures. She added that the Davao Oriental’s adoption of the SHIELD program is a key step toward creating a province that is more resilient and sustainable. The program will be implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government with the provincial government of Davao Oriental co-designing the resilience actions in data governance, capacity development, multi-stakeholder partnership, and economic resilience. Governor Corazon Malanyaon said the province hopes to lessen the vulnerability of its communities, safeguard its natural resources and foster chances for sustainable development by utilizing the expertise and support of the SHIELD initiative. In a previous meeting with United Nations Development Program personnel last month, Malanyaon said it has shown a warm welcome for the program and expressed her desire to focus on tailored-fit actions focused on the agriculture and tourism sectors. “These two sectors are considered priority programs of her administration, aimed at reducing poverty incidence in the province,” Malanyaon said. She added that they hope to boost the province’s readiness and resilience to potential hazards, such as extreme weather events and the negative effects of climate change, by integrating the SHIELD program with the agricultural and tourism sectors of the province. “With the implementation of the program involving a multi-stakeholder approach, with active involvement from governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and local communities, SHIELD is regarded as an essential initiative for aiding communities in adapting to the impacts of climate change,” said Malanyaon. The adoption of the SHIELD program by the Provincial Development Council reflects Davao Oriental’s proactive approach toward addressing the urgent concerns of disasters and climate change. The post Davao Oriental hastens resilience-building efforts appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
DENR-BMB holds 25th Philippine Eagle Week celebration
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources observed the 25th Philippine Eagle Week from 4 to 10 June through its Biodiversity Management Bureau. The event was an occasion to look back at the successes in conserving the iconic and critically endangered Philippine eagle during a quarter of a century, but, as DENR Assistant Secretary and concurrent BMB Director Marcial Amaro Jr. said, the celebration was also a reminder that there is more work to be done to ensure the survival and viability of the prized raptor often described as “national treasure.” PEW is celebrated every 4-10 June of each year in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 79, series of 1999, to educate the public on the importance and conservation of the country’s national bird , which is considered one of the largest and most powerful among forest raptors in the world. The Philippine eagle (scientific name Pithecophaga jefferyi) is continually being threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. "By conserving our national patrimony and strengthening our advocacies, we are able to improve and harmonize conservation efforts to put forward strategies and to curb the direct and indirect threats to Philippine eagle populations through relevant conservation actions concerning habitat restoration, law enforcement, management of captive and wild populations, research and conservation education,” said Amaro. This year’s PEW theme, “Unity in Action: Achieving success together,” was a call to all Filipinos to protect forest habitats to conserve future generations of Philippine eagles and their territories, and allow new generations to thrive and co-exist with other threatened wildlife. “The habitats conserved locally and protected by communities significantly contribute to environmental stability and security of human well-being, in the looming threats of climate change,” Amaro said. The BMB lined up several activities to celebrate PEW from 6 to 9 June at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City. Philippine Eagle Foundation Executive Director Dennis Salvador and Maestro Fernando Sena, the father of Philippine Art Workshops, were among those who kicked off the four-day celebration. One of the highlights of the event was an art exhibit dubbed “Isang Libong Obra Para Sa Agila,” organized by BMB and PEF in collaboration with the Philippine Fauna Art Society, Buenas Artes Art Facility and Biodiversity Finance Initiative Philippines. It showcased art works depicting the Philippine eagle by Filipino artists, who even paid a registration fee that would be donated for the installation of a water system in a community that helps protect a Philippine eagle habitat in Davao City. There were also art workshops conducted by the Buenas Artes and PhilFAS; an audio-video presentation on Philippine eagle conservation; and an interactive presentation called “Fly Malaya Fly,” which chronicled the love of a mother eagle for her baby eaglet. Special prizes were given to participants whose artworks best illustrated the Philippine eagle. In September last year, DENR Secretary Antonia Loyzaga appealed to lawmakers to prioritize the passage of proposed measures to strengthen Republic Act 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act during the joint hearing of the Committees on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; on Finance; on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking; and on Ways and Means. According to Loyzaga, the support of lawmakers in the amendment of RA 9147 is crucial in advancing collective efforts and initiatives to sustainably manage the country’s wildlife resources. The amendment of RA 9147 is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Targets 13, 14 and 15 (Climate Action, Life Below Water and Life on Land) that call for urgent and significant actions to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity, she added. In July 2022, Loyzaga — together with PEF ED Salvador — met with Dr. Robert Kennedy, a renowned ornithologist and pioneer advocate on Philippine eagle research and conservation, for possible collaboration to help save the Philippine eagle. The Philippine eagle is endemic to the Philippines and is the largest forest raptor in the country. Found in the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao, the majestic bird has been classified as critically endangered under Department Administrative Order 2019-09 or the Updated National List of Threatened Philippine Fauna and Their Categories, and by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The post DENR-BMB holds 25th Philippine Eagle Week celebration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl urges: Intensify fight vs climate change
The Philippines recently urged the global community to enforce immediate and concrete actions amid the worsening impacts of climate change. Speaking at the 58th Session of the Subsidiary Bodie of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Climate Change Commission vice chairperson and executive director Robert E.A. Borje stressed the need to translate the decisions of the 27th Session of Conference of the Parties or COP27 into tangible outcomes which is responsive to the needs of vulnerable developing nations. “As we build on the progress Parties made in Sharm El-Sheikh, we believe in the real possibility that we will be able to transform COP27 decisions into actions with outputs and outcomes that are concrete, relevant, appropriate, responsive to the vulnerable, developing nations’ needs and priorities, and based on best available science and evidence,” Borje said. Borje also raised the alarming effects of climate change in the Philippines and its nearby countries in the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations over the past decade. He lamented that the Philippines suffered loss and damage amounting to US$12 billion — equivalent to a doubled national budget for crucial health services. Within the Southeast Asian region, the Philippines, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand emerged as four of the 10 most vulnerable countries to climate change and disasters — making almost 50 percent of the ASEAN population exposed to hazardous impacts of calamities. Moreover, the ASEAN region endured economic and human losses of US$97.3 billion, nearly matching the global commitment of US$100 billion by Annex I or industrialized countries for the same period, 2009 to 2020, to support vulnerable developing nations. The Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Group of Finance Ministers reported a staggering $525 billion worth of loss and damage to 58 vulnerable ASEAN members over the past two decades. “These numbers manifest in no uncertain terms, that in the face of worsening climate change, it is our lives, our livelihood, and our collective future at stake,” Borje said, adding that climate change would really affect people’s livelihood and future living conditions. Borje also shared how the Philippine government prioritized climate change as a critical national concern as the country wants to become climate resilient and put a premium on its accelerated climate action under the country’s development agenda. The Philippines allocated US$8.2 billion or 9 percent of its total national budget for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs this year. Borje underscored the importance of inclusive participation among stakeholders in developing holistic and multidimensional climate solutions. “There’s a need to translate dialogues into actions with concrete, relevant, and appropriate outputs and outcomes as the world is raising time to mitigate the impacts of climate change with only seven critical years remaining until 2030,” Borje said. “It is time to act on our commitments and deliver what we said we will do — with the highest speed and on the largest scale possible,” he added. “This is no longer the time to explore. Now is the time to ensure that we implement and deploy the most appropriate measures so that we no longer need to grieve, but survive and thrive with higher levels of adaptive capacities and climate resilience.” Borje rallied the global community to work harder and “save lives, protect livelihoods, and secure a safe, resilient, and sustainable future for all.” The Philippines was earlier tasked to co-facilitate the pre-COP27 meeting with Poland, tackling climate finance on 13 October in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following this event, Borje attended the SB58 in Bonn, Germany from 5 to 15 June 2023, for representing the Philippines in discussions on critical issues related to climate change—which will provide a crucial platform for dialogue and negotiation leading up to COP28 in Dubai, UAE this coming November. The post Phl urges: Intensify fight vs climate change appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Under the surface
They say that Mayon — that perfectly shaped volcano in the Bicol region — only shows her full glory to those arriving in the city of Albay if (and only if) those people are truly “welcome.” It’s just a fun little myth, of course, which invites visitors to look at the volcano first thing, as soon as they land at the airport where an aerial first view is possible before a full-on feast for the eyes on the ground. I dare say it is still the most glorious-looking volcano in the world, with cracks, dents, and all. It was a sight I took for granted growing up, however. But never again after I saw it shed fiery tears some years ago. By a highway leading to my mother’s hometown, we stood awestruck at its destructive beauty. A lava flow in 2018 brought tourists to the province and we saw the vehicles parked at the same vantage point. It was some other reason that compelled me to visit that year. Should hot lava feel like the tears that fell then, the sear is nothing compared to the pain of loss. Under the surface, cracks form and create wounds that never quite heal. A report on Mayon that year by the Global Volcanism Program described the volcano as being in a “new eruptive episode.” Bicolanos heaved a sigh of relief when the situation did not worsen. For residents, every “episode” means a run of some anxiety, though I personally feel that those who had felt its occasional rumble through the decades are not so easily shaken by the prospect of an earthquake. An eruption is another matter, as Bicolanos have seen gigantic rocks flatten houses in their path. Some of those boulders are still around to remind us all that life is transitory. That we should all blaze a path and not care too much for gathering dust. This and other wisdom are worth gaining from mother nature. This week, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised to number two the alert level on Mayon Volcano. This means, Phivolcs said, “increasing unrest.” The Phivolcs statement went: “This means that there is current unrest driven by shallow magmatic processes that could eventually lead to phreatic eruptions or even precede hazardous magmatic eruption.” The term “hazardous” is giving me worries I never felt before. Perhaps it is the thought of rocks falling increasingly “from the volcano’s summit lava dome.” Such seismic activity has been noted since the last week of April, reports say. Phivolcs also said, “Mayon’s lava dome increased in volume by approximately 83,000 square meters (m3) since 3 February and a total of nearly 164,000 m3 since 20 August 2022.” Vigilance is an understatement, as I believe experiences from the past should make residents of the province more proactive. Gone should be the extra effort to evacuate forcibly those within the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. The animals will warn farmers within the area, but the local government may need to assure people of a safe haven, provisions, and the hope of having future sources of income. That last bit is iffy, to say the least — more like a dream, perhaps. Meanwhile, Taal Volcano remains at alert level 1 although “an increased degassing activity in the volcano, which produced steam-rich plumes that rose 3,000 meters above Taal volcano island,” has been noted. There is heat beneath the surface, aggravated by extreme weather due to climate change. Mother nature can be destructive, yes, but its volatility can often be read or measured ahead. The danger in human actions and reactions is that they are volatile, the destruction measured and felt over time. The post Under the surface appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»