The unprecedented increase in the country’s population has a lot of impact on the lives of many Filipinos. The effect is seen in the economy, geopolitical concerns, education, and the serious results of climate change, the most pressing issue at this time.
Climate change, or the long-term change in the climate of a place, has been brought about by global warming. This is the rise in the Earth’s temperature due to the increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons. In our country, the devastating effects of climate change have been heavily blamed on the gas emissions of developed countries, and the poor flooding systems because of bureaucracy and corruption in the government.
Another important factor often missed is the lack of discipline among us Filipinos. This is apparent in how Filipinos dispose their trash. In the recent Supertyphoon “Carina” and Typhoon “Enteng,” photos and videos abound of garbage and other waste materials floating in floodwaters or collecting on the streets once floods have subsided.
Unfortunately, this lack of discipline in throwing our garbage in designated garbage bins or trash collection areas means a waste of the money put into building the best and most efficient flooding systems. In other developed countries like Singapore, if you fail to follow laws on waste disposal, you will be fined or apprehended. The strict implementation of the law has resulted in the public’s adherence to set rules and regulations and to waste being disposed of in proper designated areas.
The other important factor behind flooding is the country’s failure to control the increase in its population. An increase in population means more consumers and a rise in demand for basic commodities that are often packaged in plastic and disposable materials. This, I believe, is where the true problem lies. If only we can control the increase in population, we can also address the very source of pollution, which are the products that we produce for the consumption of an increasing number of people.
As an educator, let me ask: Can we still win the war against climate change? Of course! However, although our increasing population is a major cause of flooding from the heavy rains brought about by climate change, we cannot just decimate our population. That would make us like Thanos, the mad titan in Marvel movies, who believes that genocide is the answer to protect his world.
I believe we can still mitigate climate change by doing the following: First, we can educate Filipinos on the repercussions of a huge population in relation to climate change. Next, we can intensify a course program on climate change if this is not yet integrated in some subjects in junior high school. Intensifying and making the education program more relevant and updated will help our learners see the importance of waste reduction in saving the planet. Third, cooperation between government and the private sector is necessary to set up facilities that will encourage the recycling of products. This in itself is a response to the call of the United Nations for people to create sustainable solutions to fight climate change.
Finally, let’s appeal for discipline in disposing our waste products. More than just pointing fingers and blaming others for flooding disasters, let’s do our part, no matter how small, as this will surely contribute to the biggest changes that humanity is still capable of.
Reynald Alfred A. Recede,
science teacher,
Marikina High School