00:00The whole world is now facing the so-called Triple Planetary Crisis.
00:06This is climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
00:12What are the problems that the world is facing when it comes to the environment?
00:18Where is the Philippines when it comes to actions against the threat of global environmental issues?
00:25And why is it important for us, as fellow countrymen, to address these issues?
00:32Here's what you need to know.
00:41This year alone, the Philippines experienced record levels of heat
00:47that reached 50 degrees Celsius in the province of Samar.
00:50While Metro Manila and other parts of the country were hit by heavy rains,
00:57such as typhoons and tsunamis.
01:00But what exactly are we doing to address climate change?
01:06The National Climate Change Action Plan and National Adaptation Plan were approved
01:13by Robert Borje, Executive Director of the Climate Change Commission.
01:17Adaptation is improving the capacity so that our LGUs and other agencies
01:24can adapt or transform or change because of climate change drivers.
01:29But when it comes to mitigation also, I mean reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.
01:36This year, more than P400 billion was invested to address the country's climate change.
01:43We saw here that the government has P457.4 billion for fiscal year 2024
01:51or 7.93% share of our NET.
01:56And we expect that in different government agencies,
02:01there will be different projects and programs for this.
02:05For example, in DOSD, their early warning system is included here
02:10to make it easier and faster to provide information,
02:16especially in quick onset events, weather events.
02:21The Philippines is also rich in natural defenses against climate change.
02:26Our country is rich in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems
02:31such as coral reefs, lagoons, mangrove forests, tropical rainforests,
02:37grasslands, and mountains.
02:41It helps our adaptation to climate change.
02:46We've heard a lot that if you have a healthy mangrove,
02:52you won't be affected by strong winds.
02:59So all of that, when you combine it, it helps with climate resilience.
03:06For example, the tall trees in Sierra Madre,
03:10when there was a big storm, when it hit Sierra Madre, the storm dissipated.
03:17These riches are included in the so-called 30 by 30 target
03:24or the commitment of the countries to protect 30% of the terrestrial, inland, and coastal areas by the year 2030.
03:34For example, in Negros Occidental.
03:38We have protected areas that are effectively managed because they are strongly supported by the local government.
03:44We sort of track the impact on the environment from 2018 to 2021.
03:52Our no net loss in the forest remaining of Negros Occidental,
03:56our forest cover increased by 6.1%.
04:04When it comes to pollution,
04:07including the environmental pollution that the world is experiencing,
04:12air pollution, water pollution, and plastic pollution.
04:18According to the World Bank,
04:202.7 million tons of plastic waste is collected every year here in the Philippines.
04:29And 20% of it goes to the sea.
04:35That is why microplastics have already gained some of the sea food that we eat,
04:42such as fish, shrimp, and mackerel.
04:46Because of this, the government launched the National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter.
04:58The target is zero waste to Philippine waters by 2040.
05:04These are individual ways by which we can contribute.
05:08We have a lot of behavioral choices and consumer choices.
05:13Through education, our countrymen should know that using single-use plastics is harmful to our situation in climate change.
05:25In the Philippines, air pollution is one of the main threats to the well-being of Filipinos.
05:33This is the third-highest risk factor that can cause illness or death.
05:41That is why one of the ways to fight climate change and pollution is to use renewable energy.
05:49It is also important to increase investments, especially on renewable energy.
05:57This is important because it will contribute to our transition towards a climate-smart, climate-resilient, and low-carbon economy.
06:11Aside from Indonesia and Malaysia, the Philippines is one of the most mega-diverse countries in the world.
06:21However, the Philippines is also one of the so-called biodiversity hotspots.
06:27This means that 70% of the country's natural habitat is lost due to threats from human activities.
06:36Laws such as the Extended Producers' Responsibility, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Air Act, and Clean Water Act are important.
06:52According to Dr. Mundita Lim, Executive Director of the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity,
06:57the Philippines is leading in the creation of policies and laws to protect the environment.
07:05This includes the RA 11995, better known as the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System or PENCAS Act.
07:17It also includes the RA 9147 or Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.
07:24However, the Philippines is still lacking in implementing these laws.
07:33It's already starting, but what's lacking and what needs to be strengthened is cross-sectoral collaboration.
07:42Each has its own action, each has its own business plan, each has its own plan for different sectors.
07:49What's good is that we can see the best practices, where that kind of collaboration works.
08:00This is where we can learn from other countries.
08:05According to Dr. Lim, in Indonesia and Singapore, we can see the best practices when it comes to biodiversity conservation.
08:16For example, in Indonesia, Indonesia is helping to protect the remaining peatland there.
08:25There are coordination, private sector, communities, and government.
08:31There are also good practices for urban biodiversity.
08:36In Singapore, we talked a lot and discussed the importance of urban biodiversity.
08:45So, how can we set aside the other portions of our urban areas that can still be preserved and have regreening.
08:56This October, the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties or COP16 was held
09:04to show the progress of our country to address the planetary crisis.
09:10Through Secretary Lulo Laisaga, our Philippine Strategy and Action Plan,
09:18where the problems on pollution and invasive species, our nature-based solutions to address the impacts of climate change
09:28and to reduce the extinction of species and also prevent biodiversity loss.
09:34If pollution and climate change gets worse, it will affect the nation's natural resources.
09:43And if it gets worse, the effects of climate change will be worse.
09:52We need to recognize the Philippine Development Plan from 2023 to 2028
09:57because it includes various programs and steps to achieve economic growth that is both sustainable and inclusive.
10:09The PDP provides various ways to solve and address the problem of triple planetary crisis.
10:18Education, implementation of policies, and implementation of some of the pillars
10:26to succeed in the fight against triple planetary crisis.
10:32We need to sustain good practices, document them, and not forget them
10:40because our application and implementation of policies must be consistent.
11:10For more information, visit www.fema.gov
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