Climate change is real, but many people are still ignoring it. People should start taking climate change more seriously as it is not a problem that will resolve itself. Climate change is more serious than the recent Covid pandemic.
These statements coming from the President days ago should prompt into action the many who still act like as if nothing has changed in the way the weather has been affecting our lives. People have short memories.
A typhoon dumps a month’s supply of rain causing floods that damage crops and properties, and lead to loss of lives. Yet, the same human behavior pattern continues. People go back to living in flood-prone areas like the banks of rivers and coastlines. Garbage piles up to clog waterways. Houses are not built to withstand stronger winds or higher floodwaters.
Heatwaves come with the summer months. School and work time remains as is. Commuting to work in the usual mode and time continues. Crops are damaged when the land turns arid, yet the same varieties are planted.
Climate change is affecting our safety, health, housing, food production, and work.
President Marcos’ statements reflect the sad truth that many people think that the state of the climate and how to deal with its disastrous results are for government to solve.
Indeed, government is expected to deal with the major actions to mitigate climate change. The President admitted that climate change is a big challenge for the Philippines and the government must change its way of handling it.
In his message during a climate summit in Pasay City on Sept. 19, the President cited the major fields where government should do more. One would be relocating people living near the shores and establishing “no-build zones” to prevent loss of lives and property when the typhoons come.
Scientists should find new crop varieties that can be more resilient to the land especially when there is less rain during the summer months. The changing climate has already caused a 10 percent decrease in the country’s annual rice production.
Houses should be built to be more resilient to the winds, the floodwaters and the increasing temperature.
As President Marcos has declared: “This is the new normal for our climate. This is what we have to face. Let’s adapt to that new normal. Climate change is a greater risk to humanity than this pandemic ever will be.”
The United Nations Climate Change paper – and many know this by now – states that “human activities have been the main driver of climate change,” primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
“Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.”
Despite the fact that we have contributed only about 1.3 percent of the carbon emissions, we – government and private sector – should do something about it because we are already suffering from its results.
While many still choose to ignore climate change, many private companies and individuals have already shifted business operations and behavior to follow the path of sustainability. But we need more than just “many” to be resilient and protect ourselves, our country, and the next generation from climate change.
We must act now!