Early this week, scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) released the synthesis report of the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This contains the consolidated and summarized findings of previous reports that describe the recent state of the world in terms of climate-related impacts. For a more detailed understanding of the findings, one can look at these on the IPCC website.
For those who have read the previous reports, and those who follow news related to climate action, the impression would be that the message is still the same: climate change is real, it is happening now, and we need to do something to limit the temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels (1850-1900).
However, the report that came out gave an even clearer picture of where we are now in terms of our efforts in addressing climate change, with the inclusion of what is perhaps the first-time picture of how we are now impacted by it.
Let us first consider the facts that are highlighted by the report:
First, human-induced impacts on global climate have reached an average global surface temperature that is about to reach 1.1 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, with greenhouse gas emissions continuing to increase despite the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most of the emissions come from stationary (e.g., electricity use) and mobile (e.g., private transport) sources of energy, land use and land use change (e.g., land conversion of forests agricultural or urban use), and the unsustainable consumption and production practices of humans across the world.
Source: IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers
Even though we have yet to hit the 1.5-degree mark, it has led to many physical calamities that lead to mental and even transitional (e.g., financing, legal, and technological) issues.
The results of climate-related impacts have led to damaged lives and properties, with communities that are considered the least contributing, but most vulnerable to climate-related impacts affected the most. These include issues on food safety and security through decreased agricultural yields, freshwater supply, the rise of even more infectious diseases, long-lasting infrastructure and economic damage, and the loss and possible extinction of certain species on land, sea, and air.
Source: IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers
Although there have been noticeable actions on adaptation measures, both in planning and mitigation, more gaps exist and are widening with each passing year. This means that efforts are still not enough in terms of policy, financing, and implementation to pursue ambitious adaptation targets globally.
Current regulations and policies at the country level on mitigation, such as national measures for decarbonization and net zero targets and other measures that may be indicated by their respective nationally determined contributions (NDCs), will still translate to global warming going beyond 1.5 degrees for the foreseeable future, and will make it harder for us to limit the temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.
The good news: if we significantly act on this problem in a manner that is rapid and sustainable, we can reduce our greenhouse gas contributions and lead to positive impacts that would lead to events linked to a decrease in global surface temperatures within the next 20 years.
If the world gets its act together, climate-related risks, both predicted and observable, will decrease and will enable us to deal with less complex solutions in the future. Any damage that we are already experiencing due to the changes in the global climate would be severely limited if we do something big in addressing climate change.
Lastly, measures on climate adaptation and mitigation that may seem drastic and too expensive now would avoid even higher costs of doing it when we do go beyond 1.5 degrees.
Globally, the IPCC is urging even more international cooperation in terms of new policies, improved financial mechanisms, more knowledge development for the public and private sectors, and better governance and collaboration.
The authors have also highlighted that if we act on these even more aggressively, the benefits would be noticeable quicker than we hoped in terms of (1) reducing air pollution and increasing health quality, (2) moving closer to financial and social inequality, (3) ensuring a just transition and climate resilience, (3) improving climate governance, and (4) contributing to the success of achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development or the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Source: IPCC AR6 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers
The question would therefore be: What’s in it for us in the Philippines?
For many Filipinos, climate change and sustainable development have been buzzwords to the point that some do not see where we can contribute to solve our issues.
Previous studies have shown that our country is one of the most vulnerable (if not the most vulnerable) to physical climate risks. The most recent example happened last year in the Visayas and Mindanao, particularly in places like in Misamis Occidental, where for the first time in many years, towns were flooded on the day after Christmas with devastating results, both physically and mentally.
There are some that contend that because we contribute less than one percent to the global greenhouse gas emissions each year, we should not be too aggressive on climate action and seek more help from more developed countries that contribute to more greenhouse gases and have more resources to address the climate problem.
However, doing little on climate action now will come to bite us back in the future, and we need to get serious about addressing this problem now more than ever.
According to data from international scientists last year, more than 50 percent of our national emissions come from electricity generation, with another 21 percent coming from transportation. We need to address these two challenges by switching to cleaner, more renewable sources of energy faster than current efforts if we can achieve a low-carbon transition that requires the support of the government, the private sector, and civil society.
Our government is highly urged to step up its efforts to address climate-related issues not just because it is an international commitment issue, but also an issue in the progress of the nation itself.
In 2021, the Department of Finance reported that national economic losses to our economy reached US$ 10 billion, or P506.1 billion over 10 years. A report by the World Bank predicts that the damage may reach 7.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 and 13.6 percent of GDP by 2040 in a business-as-usual scenario. It will impact sectors that are highly susceptible to climate change – agriculture and manufacturing. This means that we may have an even bigger food crisis if we do not adapt and mitigate now, which will lead to even more hardship for our farmers and fisherfolk that already need our help now.
For businesses, it is highly encouraged to determine where their carbon footprints are and become more innovative in finding better products and services that not only support a low-carbon transition but also a just transition. This means finding ways to empower our micro, small, and medium enterprises to develop new products that are environmentally friendly but still cost-effective and supported by the larger companies as their suppliers, for example.
Another is to consider transitioning from old business practices that may have financial sense but not in terms of the environment and society to ones that incorporate economic, environmental, and social value.
Our financial institutions should also continue to develop new ways to do transition, sustainability, and climate financing for those who really want to venture into this stream and create their own impact. Although only publicly listed companies and banking institutions are required to disclose their contributions to the environment and society through sustainability reporting, the expansion of identifying, assessing, monitoring, and implementing climate impacts to businesses regardless of size should be encouraged.
Lastly, the ordinary Juan or Juana should be eager to know and share more about what is happening to his or her community in terms of climate change and its impact on the surrounding environment and their neighbors. There should be more discussions on looking for new ideas on how to solve these problems, especially in areas that live near environmentally vulnerable areas. Knowledge from our indigenous peoples would also be highly valuable in addressing climate impacts, for they may have tested solutions that can be modernized and adapted to bigger areas with a possible minimal cost.
In situations like this, one can turn to the author Nick Joaquin who in 1988 wrote, “Have our capacities been so diminished by the small efforts we are becoming incapable even to the small things? Our present problems are surely not what might be called colossal or insurmountable – yet we stand helpless before them. As the population swells, those problems will expand and multiply. If they daunt us now, will they crush us then? The prospect is terrifying.”
Each and every strand of effort counts in the fight for climate action. Every global citizen, including the Filipino, will be needed to help. All we need is to firm up the things that we can do to achieve a greener, better Philippines.
