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Pulse Asia’s July survey reveals that 61 percent of Filipinos consider climate change as dangerous to the environment. Sixty-two percent said it poses danger as well for their families and themselves.
Considering the continuing indifference and inaction of those tasked to protect people’s lives and the environment, and especially those mandated to administer and implement our environmental laws, it is interesting to do a quick survey among policymakers and law implementers — to see if they know about global warming and if they share the same sentiment as the majority of our kababayan, and to know their proposed action plan, instead of a deafening silence.
Well, the good news is that there is a heightened public awareness on the impact of climate change to our survival in this planet. But is it enough?
Awareness must be transformed into understanding and action by each citizen — at “wartime speed,” to quote Lester Brown. We have to understand why we have reached this state we are in; how we have selfishly dissipated our natural resources and treat them as if they were inexhaustible; our role as consumers, as eco-stewards; and our dependency on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas. We have to know the negative impact of fossil fuels on our environment, such as climate change, pollution, deforestation and water use (http://www.postcarbon.org/ten-steps-individuals). We have to realize that we have to mend our ways fast and live ecologically sustainable lives to restore the health of the ailing ecosystem.
Communities must already think of ways to adapt and mitigate the ill effects of climate change and implement them. Ideally, our executive and legislative departments, including the governor, the mayors, the barangay officials and the congressional representatives, should make the initiative, in partnership with the local development councils. They can start by immersing themselves with the people living in coastal communities, and not wait for the 2010 political campaign. It might be too late.
The rise in sea level in Cebu is already a reality. Not only Mandaue’s and Talisay’s coasts are inundated; fisherfolk from Argao and Pinamungahan (ironically the sites of Department of Energy-inspired oil hunt) will tell you that sea water started reaching their houses in 2007.
While our political leaders are still in deep reverie or slumber about this gravest of planetary emergencies (you agree this is more politically correct than the phrase “wala nagpakabana”), it must be emphasized that the judiciary is rapidly moving toward the protection of the environment through the greening of the courts and increasing access to justice by the marginalized sectors.
The poor, the women and the children are always the victims of environmental injustice. They are the people who scour for salable rubbish and live inside or beside illegal open dumpsites just to survive. (Imagine if each barangay has a recycling center or a recovery facility, as mandated by Republic Act 9003. Waste pickers need not be exposed to hazardous environments for their livelihood.)
The vulnerable sectors are the ones scouring for lead in the radioactive and highly toxic coal ash in Toledo City dumped near its water sources and seas.
They are the ones who cannot afford to pay for medicine and hospitalization due to asthma, respiratory ailments, cancer and other diseases resulting from their exposure to air pollutants and hazardous wastes. They are the fisherfolk whom the State guaranteed not to be displaced from their traditional fishing grounds, but are now reeling from the ill effects of the Tañon oil drilling. They are the millions of our environmental refugees, if our destructive and self-seeking habits and practices continue unabated.
Indeed, Supreme Court’s “Access to Justice by the Poor” project is timely. As Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno said, “It is viewed as only a part of a larger effort of our government to promote social justice ‘in all phases of national development.’ For while it is a noble endeavor to provide better access to justice by the poor, it is far nobler to put a period to the persistent problem of poverty — so that all Filipinos would have the opportunity, within their own means, to protect and enforce the rights owed to them by the State and by their fellow humans.”
In January this year, the Supreme Court created 117 environmental courts through SC Administrative Order No. 23-2008. The rationale for its creation, in the words of Chief Justice Puno, was “… to address this problem of delay that the Supreme Court resolved to designate 117 environmental courts. Delay is aggravated by the lack of full understanding and appreciation of the philosophy behind environmental protection and conservation. The traditional lenses through which the judicial eye interprets legal provisions and applies them to facts have become inadequate. It must be readjusted in order to be able to take into account such concepts like environmental economics and sustainable development.”
The role of the government is to protect and serve the people. It is high time for our civil servants to be more visible and exercise the much-needed climate leadership and show that they do care. We remember the stirring words of Thomas Jefferson: “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only legitimate object of good government.” I hope GMA and her loyalists bear that in mind and shift into sustainable development projects.
The year 2010 is just around the corner. Just like in the United States and Australia, environment and climate change will be key issues in the forthcoming national political exercise. With poll automation in place, information technology, the youth vote, and a highly-engaged civil society, it will be interesting to see how politicians will play their cards to gain the respect of their constituencies who will put them into office.
It is not too late — just do it! Be a climate leader!
(To our readers: Please send in your comments on what you, as a stakeholder, can commit to and do to help mitigate the effects of climate change. Have a low-carbon day!)
