Pinoy Nobel laureates support Loren's pro-poor, pro-environment agenda

Following ABS-CBN's vice presidential debate "Harapan" last Sunday, Filipino awardees of the Nobel Peace Prize, defended Senator Loren Legarda's environmental advocacy when questioned by Senator Mar Roxas.

"The Philippines, although contributing less than 1% to global greenhouse gas emissions, is very vulnerable to climate-related disasters. If we don't address climate risks, our national aspirations will not be met," Dr. Rodel Lasco, a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) who won the Nobel Peace Prize, articulates.

The Philippines faces on average 20 typhoons each year, resulting to loss of lives and livelihood, and destruction of infrastructure. With climate change, the country is foreseen to suffer stronger typhoons, more heavy rains, more flashfloods, more devastating droughts, and increased incidence of water and vector-borne diseases.

Senator Loren Legarda laments that "not many people understand that the degradation of our environment and disasters that result from this, such as landslide, flooding and droughts have become the cause and consequence of poverty to many Filipinos. It is just so unfortunate that we have leaders who have yet to understand this strong correlation."

"Advocating green politics is not as simple as a walk in the park, what with other issues and advocacies that appeal more to the masses of voters," Loren admits.

"What I am certain, however, is that the time has come for environmental advocacy to be in the forefront of governance and platform of an administration now that we have another chance to choose our leaders."

Loren stresses, "I have always been ready to run a campaign that is built on a green platform. Filipinos are feeling the impacts of misguided and short-sighted policies that led to the degradation of the environment. With climate change threatening Filipinos' basic human rights - the right to food, the right to shelter, the right to health, the right to a decent livelihood and the right to life itself, I am all the more motivated to be at the forefront of taking big, determined steps for generations to come."

Dr. Rex Victor Cruz, Dean of the UP College of Forestry and Natural Resources, also a member of the IPCC, adds, "Loren Legarda's agenda to focus on climate change, particularly on adaptation, is highly relevant and squarely meets head on the impending adverse impacts of worsening climate that will have grave ecological and economic implications on our country. Her call to resolute actions now must be heeded by all well-meaning citizens and moreso officials or we will be consigning our country and future generations to serious problems that may be too daunting to solve."

The IPCC with Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for "their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change".

Notes:

•  In the Long-Term Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) for 2010, in 18 years the Philippines suffered every year almost 800 deaths in addition to an average of US$ 544 million worth of climate-related damages.

•  The 2010 Global Climate Risk Index places the Philippines ninth most vulnerable country to extreme weather events.

•  In report entitled "The Philippines: A Climate Hotspot", even with a conservative one-metre rise in sea level, 64 out of the 81 provinces in the Philippines would be in danger of sinking and potentially displacing some 1.5 million Filipinos.

•  In report by the Asian Development Bank, "The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia," the Philippines has high concentration of population along coastline, heavy reliance on agriculture for livelihood, high dependence on natural resources and forest, high poverty incidence.

•  Situated on the Pacific typhoon belt, the country is hit yearly by 20 typhoons, 7 of which is highly destructive.