Of forest fires and climate change

Earth is experiencing its worst economic and environmental crisis in history, according to the head of a local environmental group. “Surely by now, we have realized the relationship between environment and economics. The two compliment each other, they go hand in hand for long term sustainable development,” said Antonio Claparols, president of the Ecological Society of the Philippines (ESP).

Claparols noted that forests fires have been breaking out almost everywhere. “It seems everything is burning and why not? Drought and El Niño is upon us. The hole in the ozone layer is getting larger and larger each day. Green house gasses continue to pollute our atmosphere,” he observed.

The ESP official pointed out that soon the rains and floods will come, the seas will rise and many islands will go under. But it’s the forest fires and lack of water which concern us today, he said. Without water we have no life, no food production, nothing. And to think that water, a God-given source, once in abundance is today a scarce natural resources, he added.

Claparols said the climate change conference held in Kyoto, Japan reinforced this scenario and greenhouse gas emission should go down further. “Amid repeated scientific warnings about the potential for greater storm intesity, rising seas, drier cropland, dying forest and coral reefs and proliferating diseases,” he continued.

“The parties agreed that any serious effort to reduce the use of fossil fuels or to slow deforestation—the chief contributors to climate change would disrupt the economy. They are correct and if we do not do our part, the fires will continue as the climate change in extremes,” he added.