World Bank, SMART support search for climate change solution

CEBU, Philippines - The climate change problem may seem complex and immense, but some of its solutions rest on household owners doing something as simple as switching to energy-saving lamps.

This insight is the basis for the search for the best household solution to climate change, which was launched recently during a forum at Silliman University (SU) in Dumaguete City.

 Dubbed “Investing in Young Minds for Household Solutions to Climate Change,” the search is supported by the World Bank (WB) and leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART). 

Students of SU, Central Philippines University in Iloilo City and the University of San Carlos in Cebu City were encouraged to come up with proposals for projects that can be done by households to address the effects of climate change.

During the forum, SMART Public Affairs Group Head Ramon Isberto said that many climate change mitigating measures can be done by households and business organizations, like switching to compact fluorescent lamps or LED (light emitting diodes) and shifting to fuel-efficient transportation.

Isberto, a member of the panel tasked to react to the presentations of WB experts, said these measures do not only help minimize the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere but also result in savings for business organizations and households.

Jan Bojo, WB’s sector leader for social, environment and rural sustainable development in East Asia and the Pacific, said that since climate change is “inevitable,” people have to undertake adaptation and mitigating measures.

Adaptation measures include disaster preparedness while mitigation involves reduction or elimination of greenhouse gas emissions.

Bojo said climate change is both an environmental and development issue, and will affect food and water supplies, as well as livelihood of people.

Ulrich Lachler, WB’s lead economist for poverty reduction and economic management in East Asia and the Pacific, said climate change will hurt the poor more—particularly those living in low-lying areas. A large percentage of the population will suffer from the effects of climate change like floods and weather disturbances, as well as rising temperature that can damage crops and fish habitats.

Dr. Hilconida Calumpong, a marine biologist, raised the need to make the public understand climate change and its effects. She noted that while there is substantial information on the Internet about the issue, there is none for people who have no access to the Web and those who cannot read.

SU president Ben Malayang admitted that making people understand a phenomenon that will materialize in 50 to 100 years—like islands disappearing as sea levels rise—is challenging.

He said information is important to promote understanding on climate change. But, he said there is a need to develop information materials that people can directly relate to and understand.

Isberto said the academe has the capability to come up with innovative solutions to address the effects of climate change. “The really challenging part is not the technical aspect but getting people to use the application,” he added. SMART is providing seed money to pilot-test the best three proposals.

The search is part of SMART’s efforts to partner with the academe in disaster preparedness. The company is currently involving partner public high schools in rainfall monitoring under Project Rain Gauge and partner ECE schools in the development of low-cost intensity meters for seismic monitoring.

In line with its alternative power for cellsites program, SMART has over 100 hybrid wind- and solar-powered cell sites across the country. The company is also set on deploying fuel cell technology, which involves eco-friendly fuel like hydrogen, natural gas or liquid methanol.

SMART, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and the PLDT-SMART Foundation have also worked with community partners on reforestation projects. In 2009 alone, reforestation efforts resulted to the planting of over 350,000 seedlings and propagules in some 13 provinces across the country.   (FREEMAN NEWS)