I am very happy, as so many others are too, that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed into law the Climate Change Act of 2009.
The Inquirer’s front page shows Sen. Loren Legarda beaming with joy after her bill was signed by the President and finally we have a law that would define and prescribe to our people and government concrete ways to protect the environment and deal with the effects of climate change.
For the past number of years, we have seen the failure of government agencies tasked to protect our environment. These agencies, in many instances, were even accused of asiding with institutions out to destroy what is left of our forests to the consternation of many honest but much maligned environmentalists.
I would like to think the anger of local government units and the public against envrionmentalists is misplaced. These green crusaders are here basically to speak in behalf of the planet that cannot protect itselft against abuse. We must be grateful for them for looking out for the protection of the public from possible ill effects of harardous elements dumped in our localities.
One thing is clear: nobody has the right to dump garbage just anywhere. There is a need for us to prepare for the impact of climate change and find ways to mitigate it. What happened in central and northern Luzon areas, which were badly hit by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng, should serve as a wakeup call for the entire country.
Even weathermen are confused by the way the new typhoon, “Ramil” is behaving. These past few days it they’ve had a hard time forecasting its path and its speed. Recent typhoons are more powerful, destroying dwellings, livelihood and lives.
I could have a litany of violations of environmental laws committed by citizens and government agencies, but what’s important now is to act and act swiftly.
Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/opinion/view/20091025-232180/Dealing-with-climate-change
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
GMA signs Climate Change Act
President Arroyo holds up a copy of the Climate Change Act of 2009 after she formally signed it into law at Malacanang’s Ceremonial Hall yesterday. Looking on are (from left) Sen. Loren Legarda, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Laguna Rep. Maria Evita Arago, Mandaluyong Rep. Neptali Gonzales Jr., Paranaque Rep. Roilo S. Golez, and Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson. Willy Perez
| Zoom MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo approved yesterday a law seeking to lessen the impact of climate change in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Britain warned yesterday that the country would experience more typhoons, floods, droughts, heat waves and crop production shortages as a result of climate change.
Republic Act 9729, the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009, creates a powerful body that would formulate and implement plans for the country to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
It also aims to attract foreign financing for adaptation and risk reduction projects.
Mrs. Arroyo signed the bill into law at Rizal Hall in Malacañang with members of Congress, diplomats, local officials, business leaders, environment advocates, the academe, and religious leaders in attendance.
“The signing into law of the Climate Change Act of 2009 ushers in a new era in the way the Philippines will tackle climate change in both the short and long terms, for the benefit of Filipinos today and for Filipinos yet unborn,” Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.
The law creates the Climate Change Commission, a policy making body attached to the Office of the President tasked with coordinating, monitoring and evaluating programs and action plans relating to climate change.
Headed by the President, the four-member commission will be autonomous and shall have the same status as a national government agency.
Members of the commission must be experts in the field and will hold office for six years and may be reappointed, provided that no person shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.
Backed by a panel of technical experts, the commission has six months upon the law’s effectivity to come up with the National Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change.
The commission’s advisory board will be composed of heads of concerned government departments as well as representatives from the academe, the business sector, non-government organizations, and from the disaster-risk reduction community.
In a statement, British Embassy charge d’affaires Colin Crorkin said storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng” gave a glimpse of what’s in store if climate change is neglected.
“The UK congratulates the Philippine government’s step in the right direction with the Climate Change Act, which was signed into law by Pres. Arroyo today,” he said.
Crorkin was citing a new map illustrating the global consequences of failing to keep climate change in check.
“Food shortage, disease and conflict as a result become very real possibilities,” he said.
“We also welcome the Philippines’ strong stand on climate change issues in the international stage.”
The new map was launched today by the UK Government, with 45 days to go before international climate change talks begin in Copenhagen.
British ministers are pressing for the most ambitious deal possible in order to avoid these dangerous impacts.
The map, launched at the Science Museum by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Climate and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, along with the UK’s Chief Scientist John Beddington, was developed using the latest peer-reviewed science from the Met Office Hadley Centre and other leading impact scientists.
The poster highlights some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by four degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial climate average.
Ahead of December’s international climate change talks in Copenhagen, the Government is aiming for an agreement that limits climate change as far as possible to 2 degrees Celsius. Increases of more than 2 degrees will have huge impacts on the world.
The poster shows that the average land temperature will be 5.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The impacts on human activity shown on the map are only a selection of those that may occur, and highlight the severe effects on water availability, agricultural productivity, extreme temperatures and drought, the risk of forest fires and sea level rise.
Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez, principal author of RA 9729 in the House of Representatives, said an executive director to be appointed by the President would head the commission’s technical staff.
“It is hoped that a technically competent person with solid climate change and science credentials will be appointed executive director,” he said.
Golez said the first challenge for the commission is participation in the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
“Developing countries are worried that reducing carbon emissions would hinder their growth, while developed nations do not want climate change measures to slow down their economies and change the lifestyle of their peoples,” he said.– With Donnabelle Gatdula, Pia Lee-Brago, Jess Diaz
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=517009&publicationSubCategoryId=63
| Zoom MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo approved yesterday a law seeking to lessen the impact of climate change in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Britain warned yesterday that the country would experience more typhoons, floods, droughts, heat waves and crop production shortages as a result of climate change.
Republic Act 9729, the Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009, creates a powerful body that would formulate and implement plans for the country to better prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
It also aims to attract foreign financing for adaptation and risk reduction projects.
Mrs. Arroyo signed the bill into law at Rizal Hall in Malacañang with members of Congress, diplomats, local officials, business leaders, environment advocates, the academe, and religious leaders in attendance.
“The signing into law of the Climate Change Act of 2009 ushers in a new era in the way the Philippines will tackle climate change in both the short and long terms, for the benefit of Filipinos today and for Filipinos yet unborn,” Mrs. Arroyo said in a statement.
The law creates the Climate Change Commission, a policy making body attached to the Office of the President tasked with coordinating, monitoring and evaluating programs and action plans relating to climate change.
Headed by the President, the four-member commission will be autonomous and shall have the same status as a national government agency.
Members of the commission must be experts in the field and will hold office for six years and may be reappointed, provided that no person shall serve for more than two consecutive terms.
Backed by a panel of technical experts, the commission has six months upon the law’s effectivity to come up with the National Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change.
The commission’s advisory board will be composed of heads of concerned government departments as well as representatives from the academe, the business sector, non-government organizations, and from the disaster-risk reduction community.
In a statement, British Embassy charge d’affaires Colin Crorkin said storm “Ondoy” and typhoon “Pepeng” gave a glimpse of what’s in store if climate change is neglected.
“The UK congratulates the Philippine government’s step in the right direction with the Climate Change Act, which was signed into law by Pres. Arroyo today,” he said.
Crorkin was citing a new map illustrating the global consequences of failing to keep climate change in check.
“Food shortage, disease and conflict as a result become very real possibilities,” he said.
“We also welcome the Philippines’ strong stand on climate change issues in the international stage.”
The new map was launched today by the UK Government, with 45 days to go before international climate change talks begin in Copenhagen.
British ministers are pressing for the most ambitious deal possible in order to avoid these dangerous impacts.
The map, launched at the Science Museum by UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Climate and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, along with the UK’s Chief Scientist John Beddington, was developed using the latest peer-reviewed science from the Met Office Hadley Centre and other leading impact scientists.
The poster highlights some of the impacts that may occur if the global average temperature rises by four degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial climate average.
Ahead of December’s international climate change talks in Copenhagen, the Government is aiming for an agreement that limits climate change as far as possible to 2 degrees Celsius. Increases of more than 2 degrees will have huge impacts on the world.
The poster shows that the average land temperature will be 5.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The impacts on human activity shown on the map are only a selection of those that may occur, and highlight the severe effects on water availability, agricultural productivity, extreme temperatures and drought, the risk of forest fires and sea level rise.
Paranaque Rep. Roilo Golez, principal author of RA 9729 in the House of Representatives, said an executive director to be appointed by the President would head the commission’s technical staff.
“It is hoped that a technically competent person with solid climate change and science credentials will be appointed executive director,” he said.
Golez said the first challenge for the commission is participation in the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.
“Developing countries are worried that reducing carbon emissions would hinder their growth, while developed nations do not want climate change measures to slow down their economies and change the lifestyle of their peoples,” he said.– With Donnabelle Gatdula, Pia Lee-Brago, Jess Diaz
Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=517009&publicationSubCategoryId=63
Senator Loren Legarda may not be a trapo, but she’s smart and media-savvy.
When she announced her vice presidential aspirations, she did not (intentionally, I think) mention whom she’ll be running with. That started a flurry of media speculations that she may opt to run with administration Lakas-Kampi candidate Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro, and even with Nacionalista Party standard-bearer, former Senate President Manny Villar.
Loren keeps on saying that she’ll remain with the opposition, but that did not stop media from speculating that she may not run with Senator Chiz Escudero of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
All in all, Loren’s move boosted her stock. She drove home the point that she’s a candidate to contend with for the vice presidency.
Personally, I believe that Loren will give the other vice presidential hopefuls like Senator Mar Roxas and Makati Mayor Jojo Binay a run for their money. Note that in previous senatorial elections, Loren was always no. 1.
Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideOpinion.htm?f=2009/october/27/emiljurado.isx&d=/2009/october/27
Loren keeps on saying that she’ll remain with the opposition, but that did not stop media from speculating that she may not run with Senator Chiz Escudero of the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
All in all, Loren’s move boosted her stock. She drove home the point that she’s a candidate to contend with for the vice presidency.
Personally, I believe that Loren will give the other vice presidential hopefuls like Senator Mar Roxas and Makati Mayor Jojo Binay a run for their money. Note that in previous senatorial elections, Loren was always no. 1.
Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideOpinion.htm?f=2009/october/27/emiljurado.isx&d=/2009/october/27
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