Climate Change Commission vice chairperson Sec. Robert Borje (center) with commissioners Albert Dela Cruz Sr. (left) and Rachel Ann Herrera (right). (Photo supplied)
MALACAÑAN, Manila — Citing reports regarding dangerous climate feedback loops that are increasing global warming and risk causing a permanent shift away from the Earth’s current climate, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) chair Robert Borje is urging the private sector to join hands with the government in addressing the impact of climate change.
In a new study conducted by a group of international scientists from several institutions that include the Oregon State University, Exeter University, and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, researchers identified 41 climate feedback loops, of which 27 are driving up global temperatures while only seven are helping slow the pace of the world climate crisis.
The scientists explained that climate feedback loops are cyclical chain reactions that happen when one change triggers further changes, in a process that keeps on repeating itself. Some of these feedback loops drive down warming, but others amplify it.
“Take Arctic ice, for example. Warming temperatures cause sea ice to melt, revealing the dark ocean water beneath. As dark surfaces absorb more heat than reflective surfaces like ice, the ocean warms and more ice melts,” the scientists said.
“Oregon State University ecology professor William Ripple, a lead author on the latest study, added to reveal that forest die-off, smoldering peat lands, and thawing permafrost (are now) particularly worrisome (and) the feedback (appears to) be large and are difficult to accurately quantify.”
Reacting to the scientific pronouncements, Climate Change commissioners Rachel Ann Herrera and Albert Dela Cruz Sr. are enjoining everyone, especially those directly affected by extreme weather caused by global warming and rising sea levels, to initiate immediate climate action by supporting the CCC’s efforts of promoting tree planting activities and adopting the just transition of landfills to waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies.
In 2009, the Philippine Congress passed the Climate Change Act creating the CCC to develop policies and coordinate government programs on climate change. The CCC in turn developed the National Climate Change Action Plan that serves as a road map for all climate change programs in the Philippines.
“We, in the Climate Change Commission, have been given the mandate to formulate and issue national policies that would support the Marcos administration’s advocacy of protecting our planet and adopting a mitigation and adaptation strategy to achieve resiliency to climate change,” Commissioner Dela Cruz pointed out.
“And as a policy-making body of government, we are tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate government programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change in national, local and sectoral development plans towards a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines,” he added.
(Amado Inigo/MTVN)
