Climate-proofing hearts and minds

People still remember the launch of the Road Revolution in Cebu on Independence Day in 2011 when the entire Osmeña Boulevard was pedestrianized. Families, kids, elderly and people with disability had a heyday strolling in the suddenly wide-open space in the city. Happy bikers and youth with skateboards dotted the landscape. Friends and relatives were excited to see each other and bonded anew, uplifted by the longed-for safe environment they were in.

Spearheaded by Antonio Oposa, Jr. with the Cebu city government as partner, the painstaking efforts of leaders like Tara Rama, Gen Tabada, Edwin Castillon, Vince Cinches, and bikers led by Joel Lee and Rye Kido, certainly paid off. The Road Revolution was both memorable and significant. It made people thirst for their share of the commons, withheld from them for so long as vehicles started to dominate our streets and avenues, eating up even the narrow walkways and pedestrian lanes.

Those who were used to riding vehicles thus “inconvenienced” for a day, were not amused. Alas, they did not realize that the event was life-enhancing. Since the polluting vehicles were off Osmeña Boulevard, even for a day, the quality of the air improved, from the usual “Fair” (which means still polluted as our air quality standards, to my knowledge, have not been upgraded since RA 8749, the Clean Air Act of 1999, was enacted) to “Good” rating, a rarity nowadays.

With no pollution-emitting vehicles allowed in the area, the State that memorable day was able to protect our nonnegotiable right to breathe clean air.

Sadly, almost three years after that exciting launch, only a handful of local government units have owned up to their responsibility to provide clean air, open spaces and greenbelts and ecologically-managed solid wastes to the constituents.

We can certainly mention the cities of Makati, Pasig and Iloilo, for taking the lead in opening up public spaces for their constituents. In Iloilo, the historic and beautiful Calle Real has been pedestrianized, ably led by dedicated Jed Gonzales who is, in the words of Tony Oposa, “THE mover and shaker of the share-the-road movement.”

Unfortunately, Cebu, which is ranked 8th among the top 20 provinces in the Philippines most vulnerable to landslides, is lagging behind in the drive towards sustainability and low-carbon policy. It seems easier for local officials to support health and livelihood impacting and ecologically destructive projects like reclamation, coal power plants, oil exploration, and now the seemingly mushrooming waste-to-energy technology facilities, which not only increase the carbon concentration in the atmosphere but also destroy the very elements of life – ecosystems, land, air and water. Obviously, climate change impacts and disaster risk reduction management are conveniently forgotten. But, by doing so, they are violating our Constitution and applicable laws.

The Constitution mandates everyone, especially government, to make day-to-day choices which are “in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”. The Oposa Ruling with then Associate Justice, who became the Chief Magistrate of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, Hilario Davide, Jr., as ponente, construed our environmental right as likewise a duty not to destroy the environment.

The filing of the suit with the Supreme Court last week by Filipinos exasperated by the persistent lack of government prioritization of their health, safety and access to public space certainly inspired not a few in forging a strengthened citizens movement for an equitable, safe and sustainable tomorrow.

The revolutionary scheme aimed for, in which buses, jeeps and cars, share the road with pedestrians and human-powered vehicles (HPV) does not only promote public health and an improved quality of life, it is also a huge mitigation and adaptation strategy to the impacts of climate change.

Only a handful are aware that polluting greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane are major drivers of climate change. Do you know that RA 9003 and RA 8749, were precisely enacted to show our sincerity to abide with our commitments under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change?

Under RA 9729 and RA 10121, policy formulation, development plans, poverty reduction strategies and other development tools and techniques by all agencies and instrumentalities of the government have to integrate climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management. In other words, each agency, including even the Supreme Court, is mandated to climate-proof decision-making.

“Climate proofing comprise methods, instruments and procedures that guarantee that plans, programmes and strategies and related investments are made resilient and adaptable to the present and future impacts of climate change and that moreover contribute to the objectives of climate change mitigation.” (Road Map to climate proofing for cities, Dr. Mark Fleischhauer, Paris, 27 November 2009 Conference, Road Map Towards a Flood Resilient Urban Environment.)

Looking at the past experiences of exasperatingly slow government action, the choice now is with the people to push it to move.
We also have to reach out to communities so that they become aware not only of their rights but of the painful consequence of inaction in our climate-challenged times.

Climate-proofing hearts and minds is imperative. Laggard agencies will then have to contend sooner than later with the vibrant and dynamic citizens who are starting to be mindful in claiming their rights.