The Philippines ranked fifth in countries most affected by climate change this year, according to the Global Climate Change Index. We have experienced drastic changes in temperature and rainfall patterns since the year 2000. Of the 10 deadliest storms ever to hit the country, five occurred from 2006 onwards, with Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” the strongest storm on record worldwide to make landfall, claiming more than 6,000 lives. Climate change also worsened the effects of the El Niño phenomenon in 2015 and 2016, affecting almost 30 provinces and millions of lives and costing at least P4 billion in damages to agricultural products,
The country’s vulnerability to climate change is worsened by crushing poverty. Government policies have also proved ineffective in mitigating climate change and its devastating effects. More than 11 million Filipinos remain jobless while 15 million continue to go hungry. The government continues to rely on coal as one of our main energy sources while large-scale destructive mining and logging companies continue to reduce forest cover and poison our waters with impunity.
Giant agricorporations remain dominant in the agriculture sector, using processes and methods deemed unsustainable and nonenvironment friendly. The public transportation system is a mess while automobile companies continue to rake in millions in profits selling private cars that severely contribute to carbon gas emissions. Ever-increasing profit is pocketed by companies while the Duterte administration flip-flops on resolving the climate crisis in his own backyard.
Climate change is real. The climate crisis is getting worse. It is something that we must face and resolve now and in the years to come or face untold hardships in the future. It is high time to change this profit-oriented political and socioeconomic system into one that is people-centered, proenvironment and sustainable. We urge everyone to link hands and contribute to the struggle for climate justice and environmental rights.
Let our voices be heard today more than ever.
Climate Justice Now. System Change, Not Climate Change.
Stop Corporate Plunder of Natural Resources, and Destruction of the Environment! Advance Science and Technology for the Environment and for the People!
BELNA CABASAN,
executive director,
Climate Change Network for Community-based Initiatives, rad.ccnci@gmail.com