EDITORIAL - Earth Day

Soaring temperatures alternate with heavy rains as the country experiences an “abnormal” summer, according to weather experts. Meanwhile, people in the colder zones of the planet have just gone through one of their worst winters ever. Elsewhere in the world, unusually heavy flooding has been hitting coastal areas. As ocean temperatures rise, glaciers melt and icebergs break up. Marine life has been disrupted and fish catch has dwindled around the world.

One need not be a scientist to see the effects of climate change these days. From pollution to the extinction of endangered species, the environmental problems confronting the planet as Earth Day is marked today are so numerous and complex that even well-meaning efforts to protect the environment can have unintended negative consequences on certain species or the ecosystem.

Awareness of environmental problems has led to positive changes in the past years, including reductions in carbon emissions, improved waste management and sustainable exploitation of natural resources. It’s not just the global recession that has led to a drastic drop in crude oil prices; nations are increasingly turning to renewable forms of energy for their requirements, and the trend appears irreversible.

In the battle to preserve the environment, no gesture is too small. Simply tossing used tissue paper into a garbage bin rather than on the sidewalk can help reduce clogging of drainage systems and minimize flooding.

The Philippines has several programs to preserve endangered species including the indigenous Philippine Eagle and mouse deer. Efforts are also underway to promote eco-tourism and preserve what’s left of the country’s forests and coral reefs. But most of the programs can use bigger funding and other resources.

The country has also joined other Southeast Asian nations in region-wide efforts to preserve biodiversity. Verde Island in Batangas has been tagged by environmentalists as the “center of the center” of marine biodiversity in the world. The Philippines is blessed with precious natural resources and has the responsibility to preserve its gifts.