By Hussein Malek
Behind its beautiful beaches, the Philippines has been described as the country most at risk from the climate crisis, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace in 2019. Moreover, it was ranked as the second most vulnerable country to be affected by climate change by the Global Climate Risk Index in 2020.
Situated in earthquake and typhoon belts, the country regularly experiences floods, typhoons, landslides, droughts, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These vulnerabilities are exacerbated by poverty, population growth, unplanned urbanisation, migration, environmental degradation and global warming.
Ryan Bestre, who works in climate change and international development, says that climate change not only threatens lives but also livelihoods. “For the Philippines, frequent typhoons and flooding can be considered as one of the most challenging climate risks.” He stresses that an average of 20 tropical cyclones or typhoons enter the Philippines a year which often leads to “loss of lives and damage to property as seen from the recent impact of tropical storm Agaton.”
“The agriculture sector is particularly vulnerable where typhoons and droughts put a strain on food production. In relation, ocean acidification and coral bleaching as climate impacts can cause a decline in fish catch.”
Here are five climate-related issues that the Philippines faces.
1) Global warming
This global issue seeps into every element of the climate crisis that the Philippines faces. Increases in temperatures result in sea level rise. The rise in temperature, as well as the country’s location in the most cyclone-prone region of the world, means typhoons will be more powerful and disastrous.
Data from the Asian Development Bank in 2018 states that 16% of the population live below the poverty line. Many of them live in coastal areas with houses made of lighter materials that are susceptible to destruction due to very strong typhoons.
2) Rising sea levels
The rise of sea levels and the melting of ice caps threatens the very existence of some of the Philippines´ islands. Lourdes Tibig, a climatologist from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, states that the sea levels in the Philippines are rising faster than the global average. Globally, sea levels rise at 3.7 mm per year but for example, in some islands in the the Visayas, this is happening four times more. Scientists expect that parts of the country would be submerged by the year 2050.
3) Deforestation
The rate of deforestation in the Philippines is alarming as it has devastating impacts on people’s physical safety, food and economic security. Between 2001 and 2020, the country has lost 1.29 million hectares of tree cover, or equivalent of 6.9% of tree cover, and 753 metric tons of CO2e emissions.
With a yearly average of 20 tropical cyclones visiting the Philippines a year, many parts of the country are highly vulnerable to rain-induced landslides and flash floods. Deforestation has been cited as one of the reasons for landslides and flash floods in many parts of the country.
In 2003, around 200 people died when landslides brought about by heavy rains buried several villages in southern Leyte. A decade before, mudslides killed around 8,000 people in Ormoc, Leyte. In 2009, the Cordillera region in north Luzon experienced 40 landslides, leaving at least 400 people dead during Typhoon Pepeng.
4) Water pollution
Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, supplies a third of Metro Manila’s 16 million people with their fish. However, it is under threat from pollution from untreated sewage and industrial waste, overfishing and illegal reclamation.
The main concern at the moment is nutrient loading, where the buildup of nitrogen and phosphorus lead to eutrophication, or the over-enrichment of a body of water. This can lead to excessive plant growth and the death of animals from lack of oxygen. The main sources of nutrients are run off from farmland using fertilisers, detergents using phosphates, and untreated sewage.
5) Air pollution
Due to destructive industries such as timber, petroleum refining, vehicle emissions, and waste burning, the Philippines´ air pollution level is marked as moderately unsafe by IQAir. According to Earth Journalism Network, the country ranks 57th out of 98 as the world’s most polluted – this was before the pandemic lockdown.
The figures of the country’s fine particulate matter measured by air monitors is rated at PM2.5, three times more than the average air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organisation. This means that cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, such as lung cancer, are a probable risk.
Action to address climate change
Political will plays a big part in climate change adaptation and mitigation. Political leaders must create and implement appropriate policies to tackle the threat that is already wreaking havoc on the country.
The Philippines is not lacking in climate laws and policies. The management and overall recognition of the issues are outlined in the Climate Change Act of 2009. On top of this, the Philippines´ National Framework Strategy contains steps to mitigate issues, including renewable energy, sustainable transport, and more.
Additionally, the National Climate Change Action Plan investigates the finances and the security and sufficiency of providing appropriate welfare needs accessible to its citizens. Laws such as the Philippines Green Jobs Act of 2016, regarding sustainable growth and job creations for greener jobs, have also been enacted.
The Philippines is also a signatory to the Paris Agreement, an international treaty that aims to limit global warming by 2 degrees Celsius. It was signed by 196 countries at COP 21 in Paris in 2015.
Doing our part
Tackling the climate crisis is a collective effort, it works from the actions of the individuals all the way to government policies. The best place to start tackling climate issues is to learn more about them.
From being aware of these issues and sharing your knowledge with others, you can expand to heightening collective efforts. This includes promoting greener lifestyles and applying pressure to government and organisations to aggressively tackle the climate crisis.
According to Bestre, “In terms of climate action, we should do what we can, in whatever capacity we have, wherever we are. We should be informed, and this should translate to change in mindset and behaviour (e.g. zero waste lifestyle, less meat intake, less consumption, promoting renewable energy, etc.).
He stresses however that “System change has to take place. That can happen if we demand government leaders and corporations to divest and transition away from fossil fuels.” Moreover, he encourages putting in place “infrastructure and adaptation measures to the climate impacts the country is already experiencing.”
Despite the challenges and risks facing the country, Bestre is hopeful: “The environment and climate movement in the Philippines is growing which is especially led by the youth. That is where I draw hope from.”
About the author:
Hussein Malek is a second year multimedia journalism student at Bournemouth University. He is currently the station manager of Nerve Radio, Bournemouth’s Student Union-run radio station.
