MANILA, Philippines — Addressing and mitigating the effects of climate change is not the sole responsibility of the government, technology innovations of different stakeholders are also key to strengthening the country versus climate vulnerability, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Wednesday.
Bersamin made the pronouncement at the “Bagong Teknolohiya, Bagong Klima, Bagong Pilipinas’ climate change summit presented by the Climate Change Commission, an event the Palace executive tagged as a “landmark event” which “encapsulates the nation’s innovation and resilience in the face of the escalating climate crisis.”
“The Philippines stands at the forefront of climate vulnerability. Our archipelagic nature, while a source of immense beauty and diversity, also exposes us to the increasing ferocity of typhoons, the encroachment of rising seas, and the unpredictable patterns of extreme weather. These environmental shifts pose the gravest threat to our people, our economy, and our natural heritage,” the official stated.
CLIMATE CHANGE HEROES Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin (left) receives the rank of Apo Musang Sultan from the Climate Change Commission during the ‘Bagong Teknolohiya sa Nagbabagong Klima Para sa Bagong Pilipinas: A Climate Change Summit’ in Pasay City, on Sept. 18, 2024. The Manila Times Chairman and CEO Dante Ang 2nd also received the Climate Hero Award during the event. The summit aims to mitigate the impending economic crisis brought about by climate change. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
Citing the country’s National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050, Bersamin said that the economic toll to the Philippines brought by climate change “was projected to be substantial,” potentially reaching 18 to 25 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the next 26 years.
The climate change summit, Bersamin said, was a call to action, a platform to showcase the transformative power of technology in mitigating the impact of climate change and in building a more resilient future for Filipinos.
“We gather not just to gather and discuss the challenges (of climate change), but to also unveil the solutions. We will explore cutting edge technologies that will revolutionize sectors vital to our nation’s progress,” he said.
Initiatives include resilient housing and sustainable urban development, renewable energy solutions, and climate-smart agriculture, among others.
“The innovations presented here today offer a glimpse into the Bagong Pilipinas we aspire to create. This summit aligns seamlessly with the nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement which sets an ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent by the year 2030,” Bersamin said.
“Let us remember that the fight against climate change is not solely the responsibility of the government. The fight demands the ingenuity and commitment of all sectors of our society – the private, academia, civil society, and each and every Filipino citizen,” he added.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated that Filipinos must change the way they addressed climate change.
After the country adapted with the “new normal” brought by the pandemic, it was now time to go with the new normal brought by global warming.
“This is called adaptation… We must find ways for this to not more adversely affect our citizens. Houses near shorelines, we must transfer them and declare those areas as no build zones. We know that every strong typhoon creates a surge and affects those residing near the sea. Let’s take a step ahead,” the chief executive said in a video played during the event.
“This is what we have to face. We must adapt to that new normal. This climate change is a greater risk to humanity than the pandemic ever will be. This is such a big challenge, not just for the Philippines but for the whole world. Let’s not pretend that this is not happening or that this problem will just vanish. Let’s face it head on, talk about it, study it,” he added.
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