The effect of climate change is slowly presenting itself today. Undoubtedly, this phenomenon poses a great threat to humanity, something that every person is dreading to foresee.
Like any other developing country, the Philippines is among the most exposed to the impact of climate change because of its limited resources to combat the menace. With 70 percent of communities in the Philippines located in coastal areas, our country is particularly vulnerable to climate change.
The earth is warming. The country has shown signals of a changing climate, which include increasing trends in temperature, sea level rise and extreme climate events.
The manifestations of climate change in the country have brought floods, droughts, forest fires and an increase in tropical cyclones. All these have caused damage amounting to billions of pesos.
Experts have said it themselves: as the warming continues, the effects are sure to become more catastrophic. There are no exact ways to stop the impending consequences climate change will bring. This is an endeavor every human being will have to surpass, but we are not left to face this battle unarmed.
Seven of every 10 Filipinos acknowledged the dangers raised by climate change to the environment and their families in a recent Pulse Asia survey.
From 61 percent, the percentage of Filipinos who are worried about the dangers of climate change has gone up to 71 percent.
Pulse Asia also said the figure was a high 84 percent in Metro Manila, possibly because of the havoc caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” last year. The rising knowledge about climate change among Metro Manila’s 12 million residents can also be related to a drought this year caused by water shortage.
Filipinos are not oblivious to the advent of climate change. Awareness is the first step to actually doing something for the environment and getting involved in the fight against climate change.
We should now know where to start.
Governments around the world are now exploring strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but this is not enough.
Every unit in every society should now be focused more on what needs to be achieved in the coming years to have viable long-term options.
We are beginning to witness the effects of climate change around the globe. While we can’t undo the damage done, we are still capable of decelerating the rate of change and produce a desirable future for the planet altogether.
For now we are granted of not taking drastic measures to let earth survive. But it is our responsibility to familiarize ourselves with the grips of climate change and participate—starting with our day-to-day lives—on what we can do to draw a better place for future generations. (AJPress)
( www.asianjournal.com )
( Published August 19, 2010 in Asian Journal Las Vegas p. A6 )
