FINDING ANSWERS

The 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) could be more significant if it becomes a rallying cry for more concrete action at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), the two-week international climate summit that starts on Nov. 30 in Dubai.

As the world is reminded anew of the unforgiving power unleashed by the deadliest and most destructive typhoon that hit land on Nov. 8, 2013 and obliterated vast areas in the Philippines, with Tacloban City as ground zero, things might just get moving at this year’s COP where around 190 countries are expected to participate.

Just like the impact on the world of America’s 9/11 tragedy that compelled the international community to intensify security measures against terrorism, the Philippines’ 11/8 tragedy 10 years ago ought to compel the world, thru COP28, to take more action on the climate crisis.

COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber has called on the participants—heads of state, delegates, climate advocates, and representatives of governments, businesses, and industries— to deliver “real and actionable commitments to address climate change.”

The need for concrete action on the climate crisis is becoming more urgent than ever as time is running out to stop or significantly reduce fossil fuel use which lead to rising emissions that cause global warming which, in turn, lead to stronger weather disturbances, deadlier heatwaves and wildfires, among others.

Scientists warn that if emissions continue to rise, our planet will pass the threshold—estimated at a temperature rise of more than two degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times—in which global warming becomes irreversible and catastrophic.

A rise of more than 2 degrees Celsius could wreak havoc on almost everything—from imperiled food security due to dwindling supply of fish and agricultural harvests, to sinking of low-lying areas amid rising sea levels due to polar ice melting.

Significantly reducing emissions to cap global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – the critical threshold that scientists say would prevent the most destructive consequences of climate change – is the ultimate goal agreed upon in 2015 at the COP21 in Paris.

But since that Paris summit, scientists have increasingly warned the 1.5C goal is slipping out of reach. Achieving the target would mean global emissions plunging to around 45 to 55 percent by 2030 from the 2010 levels. Also, net zero emissions – where the amount of greenhouse gas removed from the atmosphere is equal to what is emitted – must be reached by 2050.

That the window to bring down global emissions is “rapidly narrowing” is shown in the so-called “global stocktake” which measures how countries are meeting emission goals. The US-based World Resources Institute said the stocktake report released last September “tells us clearly that the world is not on track to achieve our global climate goals.”

Thus, the call for COP28 participants to come up with “real and actionable commitments” is vital. Otherwise, this year’s COP might be just like the others – so much talk and so little action. Indeed, eight years after the Paris agreement, the world is still way off from reaching the ultimate goal of 1.5C. A climate of inaction is plaguing the climate crisis.

Swedish Greta Thunberg, the world’s most prominent climate activist representing the youth, expressed the situation succinctly during a 2021 climate rally in Berlin.

"Net zero, blah, blah, blah. Climate neutral, blah, blah, blah. This is all we hear from our so-called leaders — words, words that sound great but so far, has led to no action... Empty words and promises," Thunberg said. "Hope is not blah blah blah… Hope is taking action."

Indeed, the efforts of these annual climate conferences have been hampered by deep divisions between rich countries, which contribute immensely to global warming, and the poor countries which are hardest hit and bear the brunt of climate catastrophes while contributing little to global emissions.
In last year’s COP, attempts to pass a key proposal to phase out coal and all other fossil fuels including oil and gas were blocked by rich countries. But COP27 succeeded in reaching a breakthrough agreement, after contentious negotiations, to set up a “loss and damage fund” that would use money from rich countries to help poor ones impacted greatly by climate change.

The upcoming COP28 will put in the final touches to such fund which is expected to be handled by the World Bank as trustee. But transitioning towards a green economy with use of renewable and clean energy ought to be among other goals. Global leaders ought to focus on realigning development with the Paris Agreement.

Time is truly of the essence. Mother Earth is getting overheated with global warming as climate change wreaks havoc across the planet, causing cataclysmic storms, droughts, and other calamities that deepens poverty in the most vulnerable countries like the Philippines. ([email protected])