Environmental issues in the Philippines
Encyclopedia
The Philippines
is prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt, in the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire
,” and in the geologically unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradation
aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation
, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reef
s, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing. According to Greenpeace SouthEast Asia, the Philippines major historical river, the Pasig River
is now biologically dead due to negligence and industrialization. Currently, the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been busy tracking down illegal loggers and been spearheading projects to preserve the quality of many remaining rivers that are not yet polluted.
and typhoon belt, will be severely affected by Climate Change
. Climate change will devastate the Philippines, leading to widespread destruction of the country’s flora and fauna and flooding. The capital city, Manila
is also threatened by the rising sea levels. Currently, government projects and measures are not enough to fully "climate-proof" the country, says the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines.
Recognizing the need to tackle the environment issues as well as the need to sustain development and growth, the Philippines came up with the Sustainable Development Strategy. The notion for the Sustainable Development Strategy includes assimilating environmental considerations in administration, apposite pricing of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, rehabilitation of ecosystems, control of population growth and human resources development, inducing growth in rural areas, promotion of environmental education, strengthening citizens’ participation, and promoting small to medium sized enterprises and sustainable agricultural and forestry practices. One of the initiatives signed in part of the strategy was the 1992 Earth Summit.
Upon signing the 1992 Earth Summit, the government of Philippines has been constantly looking into many different initiatives to improve the environmental aspects of the country.
With the ADB Climate Change Project in 1991, transition towards a low-carbon growth path the markets for low-carbon, high-efficiency goods and services started to expand, increasing the investing opportunities for farsighted policy makers as well as businesses to reap the benefits. These benefits will come about through innovation and investments. The project itself generated even higher understanding of climate change in the region and generally helped Philippines strengthen its case for strong action globally in light of having sustainable development.
2011
Even now in 2011, climate changes still threatens the Pacific greatly. In the recent ADB report on Solomon Times Online dated 15 September 2011 released from Manila, Philippines, climate change was reported to threaten to increase hunger in the pacific.
In the report, it stated that the Pacific region is either vulnerable or already experiencing the harsh effects of climate change, including worsening coastal erosion, floods, drough, and the storm surges. Economically, these conditions are affecting many of the commercial and subsistence farmers with their crop production according to Food Security and Climate Change in the Pacific: Rethinking the Options.
Taking on the development challenge
Agricultural productivity has stagnated in the last 45 years despite the region's growing population. Agglomentation also contributed to that, seeing people from the countryside seeking better work in the cities.
Thus, with the aid of forecasts and climate change reports, many different efforts and initiatives can be adopted to work towards sustaining the country's development. One such effort may be to increase investment in agricultural research and development to raise productivity and resource management. Communities then has to cooperate and find the optimal way to adapt to changing agricultural needs and countries can work with each other and with regional agencies to tackle the development challenge brought forth by climate change.
The report says all national planning and policies should take climate change into consideration and infrastructure such as ports, roads, water pipes and coastal development needs to be climate proofed. Not only will all these increase regional production, connectivity and ultimately, food security. Thus, the awareness and specific data The Climate Change Project carried out by Asian Development Bank will help the respective institutions to understand the extent of the damages that can be dealt by the climate changes in the region.
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
is prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt, in the active volcanic region known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire
Pacific Ring of Fire
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. In a horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements...
,” and in the geologically unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates. The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradation
Environmental degradation
Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife...
aggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reef
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing. According to Greenpeace SouthEast Asia, the Philippines major historical river, the Pasig River
Pasig River
The Pasig River is a river in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it is lined by Metro Manila on each side...
is now biologically dead due to negligence and industrialization. Currently, the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been busy tracking down illegal loggers and been spearheading projects to preserve the quality of many remaining rivers that are not yet polluted.
Climate change
The Philippines, being in the Pacific Ring of FirePacific Ring of Fire
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area where large numbers of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur in the basin of the Pacific Ocean. In a horseshoe shape, it is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and volcanic belts and/or plate movements...
and typhoon belt, will be severely affected by Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. Climate change will devastate the Philippines, leading to widespread destruction of the country’s flora and fauna and flooding. The capital city, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
is also threatened by the rising sea levels. Currently, government projects and measures are not enough to fully "climate-proof" the country, says the Climate Change Commission of the Philippines.
Sustainable Development
Philippines: Strategy for Sustainable Development (PSSD)Recognizing the need to tackle the environment issues as well as the need to sustain development and growth, the Philippines came up with the Sustainable Development Strategy. The notion for the Sustainable Development Strategy includes assimilating environmental considerations in administration, apposite pricing of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, rehabilitation of ecosystems, control of population growth and human resources development, inducing growth in rural areas, promotion of environmental education, strengthening citizens’ participation, and promoting small to medium sized enterprises and sustainable agricultural and forestry practices. One of the initiatives signed in part of the strategy was the 1992 Earth Summit.
Upon signing the 1992 Earth Summit, the government of Philippines has been constantly looking into many different initiatives to improve the environmental aspects of the country.
Asian Development Bank Climate Change Project
One of the entities that came in aid was ADB (Asian Development Bank) in 1991. Working in line with Philippine Agenda 21 (PA 21) to ensure sustainable development, the Asian Development Bank conducted several vulnerability studies on the country before generating a series of assessment on the country's vulnerable sectors and areas to climate change. The specific sectors and areas include the country's agricultural activities, water resources as well as activities going on in the coastal areas.With the ADB Climate Change Project in 1991, transition towards a low-carbon growth path the markets for low-carbon, high-efficiency goods and services started to expand, increasing the investing opportunities for farsighted policy makers as well as businesses to reap the benefits. These benefits will come about through innovation and investments. The project itself generated even higher understanding of climate change in the region and generally helped Philippines strengthen its case for strong action globally in light of having sustainable development.
2011
Even now in 2011, climate changes still threatens the Pacific greatly. In the recent ADB report on Solomon Times Online dated 15 September 2011 released from Manila, Philippines, climate change was reported to threaten to increase hunger in the pacific.
In the report, it stated that the Pacific region is either vulnerable or already experiencing the harsh effects of climate change, including worsening coastal erosion, floods, drough, and the storm surges. Economically, these conditions are affecting many of the commercial and subsistence farmers with their crop production according to Food Security and Climate Change in the Pacific: Rethinking the Options.
Taking on the development challenge
Agricultural productivity has stagnated in the last 45 years despite the region's growing population. Agglomentation also contributed to that, seeing people from the countryside seeking better work in the cities.
Thus, with the aid of forecasts and climate change reports, many different efforts and initiatives can be adopted to work towards sustaining the country's development. One such effort may be to increase investment in agricultural research and development to raise productivity and resource management. Communities then has to cooperate and find the optimal way to adapt to changing agricultural needs and countries can work with each other and with regional agencies to tackle the development challenge brought forth by climate change.
The report says all national planning and policies should take climate change into consideration and infrastructure such as ports, roads, water pipes and coastal development needs to be climate proofed. Not only will all these increase regional production, connectivity and ultimately, food security. Thus, the awareness and specific data The Climate Change Project carried out by Asian Development Bank will help the respective institutions to understand the extent of the damages that can be dealt by the climate changes in the region.