My Point of View: Is Climate Change a man-made or natural disaster?

 

Typhoon "Paeng" flattened into ground zero in Kusiong, Datu Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, 29 Oct. 
2022. (Photo by| M. Ibrahim/ UNHCR.)

 

By Jun Enriquez (President, Manggagawang Media ng Mindanao – MMM)

The unexpected tragedy of sever tropical storm Nalgae (local name “Paeng”) is very worrying because it was the first time people in Maguindanao and Cotabato areas experienced such a worst kind of disaster due to continued heavy rains in few days’ time prior to the typhoon Paeng smashed on October 29. According to government reports, there were more than 2,000,000 people affected by STS Nalgae and at least 863,000 people are seeking temporary shelter inside 2,801 evacuation centers or with their friends and family. Government record at least 121 people died, with 103 persons injured and 36 others are still missing. Information gathered, the awareness setting of the people was about “tsunami” but the actual scenario was mudslide, especially in Kusiong, Datu Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte, was badly buried in the mud. There are at least 20 typhoons to strike in the Philippines yearly that brings disaster to people’s lives and properties, an impact of climate change.

Climate change was already discussed in my previous article but we will not stop collecting information to look at how to address the causes of climate change that results to disaster as its effects. In layman’s understanding, climate change is the result of extreme heat due to excessive emissions of carbon gases, CO2, because of the excessive use of fossil fuel in the modern industrial age makes warming environment faster evaporation of having more moisture form clouds. This creates high pressure pushes down and compressed hot air. More heat from the sun gets more evaporation of vapor produces heavy rains that will develop into typhoon.

The question now underlies the scenario, is climate change a man-made or natural disaster? Based on the preceding information, climate change is a man-made disaster. It simply explain the root causes of who produces more carbon gas emissions more heat, more usage of fossil fuels causes the rising of temperature in a hot environment, melts the ice in the north cause another scenario of disaster like what happened in Pakistan early this year that 1/3 of the country submerged in water due to the melting of ice.

If climate change will not be addressed, the next generations will be suffering and going back to the history of Noah’s age. Advance countries are more responsible of climate change because of the modern industrial age using fossil fuels and release more carbon gas emissions. Deforestation also one of the contributory factors of climate change because less forest reserves will absorb lesser carbon gas and release less oxygen gas naturally.  

Based on scientific study on global warming, global temperature will have a limit to 1.5 C based on the prevailing atmospheric temperature as a prevention of rising global warming. However, temperature in the Philippines goes beyond the limit at 1.98 C. Philippine government should take focus to overcome global warming in the country and mitigate climate change.

Again, in layman’s understanding, to mitigate climate change in the landscapes is to restore, protect and preserve forest reserves and conservations through the strict implementation of environmental laws to fully stop illegal logging, regulate slash and burn of trees, stop illegal mining, among others. All these illegal activities in the landscapes are considered to be the means of livelihood and economic activities. Best, the government should introduce alternative livelihood activities for economic development, especially in agriculture development and plant more trees.

The government must develop environment-friendly technology such as the Bamboo engineering industry as an alternative of wood industry for housing, buildings and other infrastructure. Bamboo is considered one of the tallest grasses in the world will helps more to mitigate climate change. There was already available Filipino technology on Bamboo industry locally owned and managed by experts Environmental Engineers based in Iligan City, the industrial city of the southern Philippines.

In this perspective, the government will be in the right direction in mitigating climate change. Having more trees will safely absorb more carbon gases and produce more oxygen gases to save nature.   

In another environmental study on seascapes, sea grasses will emit 35 percent more oxygen than the trees in the forests. Seascapes should be protected from water pollution and restore its habitation environment for the preservation of marine life. Having more emissions of oxygen will lower down global warming temperature and this will mitigate climate change. The fisherfolks community must be trained and educate of their responsibilities and strict implementation of fishery laws for the protection and preservation of the seascapes and avoid illegal fishing.   

In my point of view, it is best for the government to provide enough budgetary requirement on climate change actions from preventions to response before and after disaster. Climate change actions must be a priority in government programs on proactive measures, preparation and quick response to save lives. It is the primary responsibility of the government not to allow its people become collateral damage may be because of non-sensitivity on climate change. Government perspective should change its course in dealing with climate change seriously.