RP among most vulnerable to climate change - Loren

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda said the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable to climate change, according to multilateral organizations such as the Manila-based Asian Development Bank, World Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and they are willing to provide funds to assist the country in adapting to climate change.

Legarda, chairman of the Senate climate change committee, advocates for the widespread understanding of the vulnerability of the country to climate change and the implementation of adaptation strategies to reduce or minimize the adverse effects of climate change.

She calls attention to the National Climate Change Action Plan provides an assessment of the national impact of climate change, the identification of the most vulnerable communities/areas, identification of differential impacts of climate change on men, women and children,  the assessment and management of risk and vulnerability, identification of GHG mitigation potentials and the identification of options, prioritization of appropriate adaptation measures for joint projects of national and local governments.

The National Climate Change Action Plan is part of the Climate Change Act of 2009 which she principally authored and was signed into law last year by President Arroyo. This Action Plan is very different from the program earlier adapted by the Presidential Task Force on Climate Change whose priority was more on carbon emission mitigation, hence was chaired by the secretary of energy.

“Witness the effect of drought, not only is agricultural production decreased but because waters in the reservoirs are inadequate, energy for industry is also limited, hence industrial production also suffers,” she said. “Not to mention the discomfort of households due to limited water and electricity,” she continued.

“Super typhoons like Ondoy and Pe-peng claimed lives, homes, livelihood, properties, aquaculture and crops. Imagine these super typhoons occurring every year or so. Even without these natural disasters, high temperature alone is known to adversely affect agriculture and fisheries. Increased night temperatures reduce rice production significantly according to IRRI scientists. Bleaching of coral reefs has been attributed to increased sea temperatures due to El Nino,” she explained.