Stalemate

Members of the Philippine delegation are remaining mum about what is actually happening inside the negotiation rooms at this year’s Conference of the Parties (COP) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Developing countries are pushing the Global North to take responsibility for the damage caused by climate change, as these nations have contributed significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The Philippines is also advocating for compensation, asking for a sum in the trillions of dollars on behalf of all developing countries, as our region is consistently at the forefront of natural disasters. An insider within the delegation revealed that the negotiations are currently at a stalemate, with some countries hesitant to move forward with this request.

It is both insightful and encouraging that the United Nations has set aside an annual convention to address serious issues like climate change. I first encountered the term "climate change" in a rather dry documentary by Al Gore. I found it boring, but I was eventually struck by the undeniable truth of his message. Fast forward to today, and we are experiencing the devastating effects of human activities that have caused the planet’s warming. One of the key goals of this year’s COP is to limit the global temperature increase to no more than one and a half degrees Celsius. We are destined for even greater trouble, if the planet warms beyond that threshold.

The trouble is already here. The Philippines faces more typhoons than usual since these weather disturbances are fueled by rising temperatures. In addition to this is sea level rise, ocean acidification, extreme heat waves, and many other climate-related issues. Scientists have proven that they are being triggered by the emissions of highly-industrialized countries. The Philippines, despite its relatively low contribution to global emissions, sits in a vulnerable position, directly affected by climate hazards. Therefore, we must pay close attention to the unfolding global discussions.

While the situation may be at a stalemate on the international stage, on the national level, we must act decisively. The Philippines needs to adopt and implement frameworks presented at international conventions like COP. One urgent priority is the creation of a robust loss and damage fund. It should be one that cannot easily be corrupted or misused. When local government units are hit by natural disasters like massive typhoons, the fund must be accessed immediately.

Local government units must take climate change seriously as well by implementing their own land use and development plans as well as climate action plans. While having a plan is important, it is even more critical to follow through with actual implementation. On another front, climate education must be prioritized by the government. This is to raise awareness about the reality of climate change. What we are experiencing is not a result of superstition or myths --it is based on scientific facts. We cannot allow global indecision or inaction to hinder the way we prepare for and respond to disasters. The time to act is now, not when the world becomes even hotter.