NDCC braces for growing impact of climate change
Disaster response and management agencies are gearing for the expected intensification of the impact of climate change on the country's weather patterns.
National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Executive Officer Glen Rabonza said they expect stronger typhoons that could trigger calamities in the country.
"Even without climate change, we are already battered by natural calamities. So, this could get worse," Rabonza said in an interview.
The environment and development organization Germanwatch last week reported that the Philippines was at the top of the 2006 Global Climate Risk Index, the most affected among the countries that suffered from storms, floods and weather extremes last year. This was a jump from the ranking of 51st in 2005.
Germanwatch reported that storms in the Philippines resulted to at least 1,267 deaths and losses totaling $4.5 billion.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a scientific intergovernmental body, has issued four reports citing general increases in global
average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea
due to the warming of the climate system.
The warming is blamed on increased volumes of greenhouse glasses. including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, that have altered the balance of the atmospheric system.
The global warming is blamed on the increased intensity of storms, hurricanes, rainfall and the El Niño and La Niña weather phenomena.
Rabonza said that while the government is preparing for the impact of the climate change, the intensity of the impact should be intensity should be scientifically established.
"We must be very cautious not to cause unnecessary alarm to people like prematurely calling for an evacuation because of an expected rise in water level in a particular area. This is the importance of a scientific basis for assessments and corresponding policy decisions," said Rabonza.
Rabonza said at least two researcher are ongoing to establish the specific impact of climate change in the Philippines.
The World Bank-funded climate change adaption project started this year is set to be completed in three years.
The $15-million project, partly funded by the Global Environment Fund seeks to develop and demonstrate the systematic diagnosis of climate-related problems and the design of cost-effective adaptation measures.
It involves the improvement of coordination of adaptation policy by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, implement climate risk reduction in key productive sectors, strengthen proactive disaster management within the NDCC and enhance provision of scientific information for climate risk management.
A similar project worth $12 million is being undertaken by the United Nations Development Program.
Rabonza that with these researches, the government can effectively assess specific impact on key sectors including agriculture, communities in coastal areas, and on weather-affected diseases.