Global warming heats up

The 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) formally starts today in Paris, France. About 105 heads of state, including the leaders of world’s most powerful countries like US President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping of China are attending this United Nations (UN) climate change summit. Our own President, Benigno “Noy” Aquino III, flew to Paris yesterday morning in time for the opening of COP21.

They are all coming to actively participate at the COP21 amid the backdrop of the Friday the 13th deadly terrorist attacks where 130 people were killed in various crowded public places around Paris. The COP21 is actually being held at Le Bourget, located northeast of Paris. After leading the French people in grieving and condemning the Islamic State (IS) jihadists that admitted the spate of suicide bombings, President Francois Hollande is ready to play host to this biggest gathering of world leaders at COP21.

For his part, President Aquino will lead the Climate Vulnerable Forum to be participated in by 20 developing countries representing almost 200 million people and will join world leaders in pushing for a new and legally binding agreement that will ensure funding for vulnerable countries to address the effects of climate change.

P-Noy will present the programs the Philippines is implementing to combat climate change, including its commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 70 percent in the energy, transportation, waste, forestry and other industries by 2030.

The Philippines was chosen to lead the Forum formed in 2009 aimed at generating financial support from the private and public sectors for a general climate action. Our country has become the “poster boy” for disaster because of our most recent bouts one after the other with nature’s wrath.

Magnitude 7.2 earthquake crumbled Bohol and several other provinces in Visayas and killed 222 people on October 15,2013. On November 8,2013, super typhoon Yolanda – internationally called “Haiyan”  – wrought devastation in Eastern Visayas provinces and killed more than 7,000 people.

On the eve of the COP21, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Robert Glasser of Australia as the new Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction. As head of the Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), Glasser will succeed Margareta Wahlström of Sweden in January, 2016.

Wahlstrom was here in the Philippines earlier this month to witness the launching of the Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE). This is a network of private sector entities in our country whose members committed to adopt the 15-year global roadmap for disaster risk reduction and management signed in Sendai, Japan in March, 2015. The STAR is part of ARISE network to help educate the public on environmental issues, climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.

One of her last acts for the UNISDR, Wahlstrom will appoint Senator Loren Legarda as the first Global Champion on Resilience at the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) High Level event today in Paris. UNISDR recognizes individuals as Disaster Risk Reduction Champions for using their political influence to lobby for disaster risk reduction in their country, region and beyond. This is a non-remunerated honorary position.

Only the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction and head of UNISDR may designate a Disaster Risk Reduction Champion by issuing a letter of designation. The Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction is a distinguished role to provide leadership to build the resilience of nations and communities from disasters.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia was the first-ever designated as Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction. Our own Senator Legarda receives today this honor for the Philippines.

Before her newest designation from the UNISDR, Legarda accepted her appointment as the Asia-Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) since 2008. As a DRR Champion Senator Legarda assists the UNISDR promote the benefits of disaster risk reduction policies in Asia-Pacific countries and communities of the region that are most vulnerable to disasters.

However, Legarda could not attend the COP21 in Paris. As the incumbent Senate committee on finance, Legarda is tied down by the ongoing deliberations for the proposed 2016 budget bill of the national government.

Philippine ambassador to France Ma. Theresa Lazaro and Climate Change Commission (CCC) Secretary Manny de Guzman will likely accept it on behalf of Legarda.

Jerry Velasquez, the highest-ranking Filipino at the UNISDR, said it will be a hectic day on the first of the 12-day COP21, with so many heads of state in attendance. As the Chief Advocacy and Outreach at the UNISDR, Velasquez has been in the frontline of the UN campaign to bring together all nations to, among other things, agree to a common cause to save mother earth from feared extinction due to unabated global warming phenomenon.

As chief of this section and head of the Making Cities Resilient Campaign of the UNISDR, he is also responsible for partnerships with the private sector and parliamentarians in addition to local governments. Currently, he disclosed, there are 3,000 local government members and 1,800 parliamentarians in their network.

The full participation of the world leaders at the COP21 is not just a statement of support to France as the latest victim of ruthless terrorists’ acts. It is a demonstration of the world concern and concerted efforts to save planet earth from the catastrophic global warming that poses the biggest threat to the survival of mankind.

With all the best intentions and best efforts, with all the submitted intended national contributions of all countries, Velasquez placed the best estimates of COP21 will be to come to an agreement to reach a temperature increase of 2.7 to 3 C degrees by 2100.

“This is far better than the 5 degree increase if nothing is done. The last ice age was just 5 degrees colder than today’s temperatures,” Velasquez warned. He remains optimistic on the two-degree target is within reach. But much more needs to be done as global warming heats up and ironically brings us back to the ice age.