What’s next after Paris (Part 1)?

Starting from the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and proceeding almost non-stop year after year, representatives of close to 200 nations have sat down, discussed, argued, and ended up to agree to sit down, discuss and argue once again what to do about the threat of climate change to the world.

Even as COP21 or the Paris Summit ended recently in cheers and celebrating, there can be no let-up in the activism that imbues this all-important conference of nations to stop the rising ambient temperature on Earth by more than two degrees Celsius, or what is scientifically regarded as a level when irreversible damage to the world will happen.

Two important points of agreement are precious to the Paris Summit. First, the parties, including the US and China, have agreed to limit the world’s rise in average temperature to “well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.”

And second, even as developed countries avoided legal culpability over the losses resulting from massive carbon emissions of their power plants and factories, they pledged to help developing countries switch from fossil fuels to greener sources of energy as well as to adapt to the effects of climate change, and to provide $100 billion a year to this cause.

Real work starts

The first point signals the beginning of real work, something that had been tossed and passed around in previous years, by the now 195 countries involved in the COPs (Conferences of Parties) since the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established.

While developed nations are guided by the goal to keep emissions so the world’s temperature will not rise higher than two degrees Celsius, they are not sanctioned for not adhering to it – meaning they cannot be penalized for non-observance of the agreement.

But it’s a good start, and a seemingly good show of these nations’ resolve to bring to an end, or at least significantly contribute in ending, the era of fossil fuels. This means that, despite the “limitations” of the Paris accord, nations now agree that something needs to be done.

Even China, which historically had been putting off signing such an agreement, is now seriously concerned about curbing emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere, and has been seen passing more legislation to fight pollution and carbon emissions.

How each of these developed countries will tackle their own respective scorecards (which they have to fill out annually and submit to the United Nations) is still vague. Possibly, there will be withdrawal of the widespread subsidies on running fossil-fueled engines, or there will be new incentives to develop clean fuel technologies.

While any of these measures would likely be in place within the next five years, reversing or curbing the warming of the world’s climate will take longer to happen.

A lifetime away

If things go as planned in accordance with the Paris pledges, meaning everyone will cooperate, the world’s temperature will still be higher by 2.7 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial revolution levels come 2100.

Many of us could say the next century is still a lifetime away. But for many people within the next few years, this could mean rising seas that could drastically shrink the size of the islands where they were born, or at worse, erase these totally off the Earth’s map.

Or more super typhoons could flatten the landscapes where homes stand, leaving death, hunger, and the absence of livelihood, much like what happened when Haiyan hit the Philippines two years ago.

For real change to happen at a more accelerated pace, governments of developed and big emerging economies must see the urgency of the Paris accord and act with swiftness to enact the needed laws that would bring change.

Next time, we would certainly need more than the Pope’s intervention, who had been rumored to have been actively working behind the scenes during the Paris Summit. Next time, we would need God’s direct hand to save the world. 

TIP Cinderella run at NCC Elite Eight

The Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) proved to be the Cinderella team of the 2015 National Collegiate Championship (NCC). The Engineers racked up three straight wins to barge into the Elite Eight phase and become the first team not belonging to major leagues UAAP, NCAA and CESAFI to join the elite circle.

TIP Engineers started the magical run by upsetting highly favored Mapua Cardinals, NCAA third placer, followed by a close win over St. Clare of NAASCU, to enter the Luzon-Metro Manila qualifying games where they ran over the Lyceum Northwestern U Dukes, North-Central Luzon champion, to grab the first-ever Elite Eight seat.

The Engineers earned their first Elite Eight win by eliminating the University of Visayas, Vis-Min qualifying winner and CESAFI runner-up. After four straight wins in five days, the Engineers lost steam and lost a two-point thriller to NCAA runner-up, San Beda College Red Lions.

The TIP Engineers left with heads held up high knowing they gave honor to their alma mater by playing their best of all of their games. Mabuhay, TIP Engineers.

NCC championship day

After the championship games, prize awards will be distributed to the top four teams, and the top performers – Most Valuable Player–Finals, Mythical Team members, Best Coach and Best Referee. These special prizes are annually sponsored by Meralco, thanks to CEO Oscar Reyes and SVP Al Panlillo.

The NCC, organized and managed by Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL), is an annual multi-level nationwide competition that brings together collegiate champions all over the country to determine the one and only national collegiate champion for the year.

The winner of this competition is awarded the possession of the M. V. Pangilinan Perpetual Trophy Sculpture, “Abutin Ang Tagumpay.” The San Beda College Red Lions is the current holder of the sculpture after winning last year’s championship.

The National Collegiate Championship is sponsored by ABS-CBN, Philippine STAR, Molten Balls, Fil-Oil Flying V Sports, Fog City Creamery, and Foccacia. Tickets are available at SM Tickets online.

Visit the PCCL website (CollegiateChampionsLeague.net) for more details/information and like our official Facebook fan page (Philippine College Champions League).

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