MINDFULLY GREENIE: Getting real on the climate crisis

Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos

Six local government units in Cebu have declared a state of calamity due to the adverse impacts of El Niňo. These are Carcar, Minglanilla, Sogod, Ginatilan, Samboan and Toledo City which recently adopted the province-wide state of calamity declared by the Provincial Board (PB) of Cebu.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Nino is the “warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).” It said that “Unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific which started since November 2018 is expected to become a full-blown El Niño.”

What happens when a full-blown El Nino is declared?

A full-blown El Niňo is expected to bring the following changes: extended dry season, delayed onset of the rainy season, weak monsoon activity, fewer tropical cyclone, below normal rainfall, with dry spell or drought conditions in most parts of the country above normal air temperature.

Damaged corn, rice, and vegetable farm are afflicting hectares of land while fish kills due to the warming ocean are happening.

The other extreme of the climate challenge is a more frequent and intense occurrence of typhoons and storm surges. Remember Typhoon Haiyan, popularly known as Yolanda? The strongest typhoon to hit landfall still leaves sad memories for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, who lost dear ones and suffered from its devastating impacts.

The climate crisis affects more the vulnerable sectors – the farmers, fisherfolk, the elderly, women, children, indigenous peoples and those with disability. It is ironical that those who have less carbon footprint should suffer more.

Do we have laws to make our natural life support systems and our people resilient and able to respond to climate change? Yes.

We have many environmental, climate and disaster risk reduction and management laws that should make citizens and leaders alike more responsive to climate change impacts.

But, as always, the question lingers: are these laws being implemented, from the province and highly urbanized cities down to the barangays?

Are our people given the voice and the platform to participate in decision-making that concerns their basic rights to life, health and a healthy environment?

Scientists have been warning us of irreversible consequences if we do not drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a special report on the impact of global warming of 1.5C above pre-industrial level.

Five steps to 1.5 include:
Global emissions of CO2 need to decline by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030
Renewables are estimated to provide up to 85% of global electricity by 2050
Coal is expected to reduce to close to zero
Up to seven million square km of land will be needed for energy crops (a bit less than the size of Australia)
Global net zero emissions by 2050

Are we ready to make the much-needed drastic lifestyle change to save our planet?