Green Pondering

Climate change or global warming is the current buzzword nowadays. Climate change is attributed largely to the increased levels of carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels, CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) and others collectively known as greenhouse gases. Certain gases in the atmosphere trap this heat and act like the glass of a greenhouse. Emissions of these gases are primarily caused by human activity. The earth’s natural process, e.g., farms, water vapor, volcanoes only contributes 25%. In 2017, China, United States, European Union, China, India and Russia collectively contributes 70% of total world gas emissions. The Philippines only emits 0.38%.

Mitigation or Adaptation?

Mitigation calls for intervention in reducing and stabilizing the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. On the other hand, adaptation measures are based on reducing vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Mitigation, therefore, attends to the causes of climate change, while adaptation addresses its impacts.

With the above, the Philippines can only assist, cooperate, and abide to international protocols ratified to mitigate climate change. Climate change is already having a significant impact on ecosystems, economies and communities. These are extreme temperatures,crop yields, flooding, drought, and extreme weather events. One of the identified serious impact of climate change is on how it will affect the water resources of the world.

Several laws to reduce climate change have been passed. What about laws to deal with the climate change that will occur regardless of these laws. We should focus on laws and projects to handle these changes such as flood control, water reservoir and irrigation, land use and zoning, new water sources, updated building codes to handle extreme weather, sewerage systems, etc. and help in the education of the people on the effects of climate change.

As individuals and Rotarians, do we have any ideas/projects in mind to help us and our community in adapting to these changes? Can we approach our lawmakers to introduce bills for this purpose?