Each year, the effects of man-induced climate change grow ever more apparent in the Philippines. Temperatures since the start of summer have reached dangerous levels of over 36 degrees Celsius (°C) in Metro Manila, and places like the provinces are even hotter.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has even recorded an almost fatal heat index of 47°C in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte last month, while places like Leyte, Bohol, Capiz, and even Davao are regularly reaching over 40 degrees.

Moreover, in a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, nine in ten Filipinos have admitted to seeing the impacts of climate change firsthand. 93% of adult Filipinos surveyed in December last year said they have experienced the adverse effects of climate change, such as super-typhoons, heat waves, and other severe weather.

Staying true to Filipinos’ characteristic optimism, however, the same SWS survey found that 88% of the respondents agreed with the statement, “People like me can do something to reduce climate risks.” 76% of Filipinos think that humanity could do something to stop or slow down climate change if everyone really tried.

That same message has been echoed time and again by the world’s leading scientists, and such calls grow louder still.

According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released last month, scientists have identified a wide range of practical and effective strategies for mitigating the effects of climate change brought on by human activities.

“Mainstreaming effective and equitable climate action will not only reduce losses and damages for nature and people, it will also provide wider benefits,” said IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee. “This Synthesis Report underscores the urgency of taking more ambitious action and shows that, if we act now, we can still secure a livable sustainable future for all.”

The IPCC has been highlighting the immense scale of the challenge needed to limit warming to 1.5°C since 2018 and even before.

However, the problem has only gotten worse in the succeeding years as greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise on the back of the growth of developing economies in Asia and their ballooning energy demands.

Dependence on fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, is the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions responsible for accelerating climate change. Global warming of 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels is attributable to more than a century of burning fossil fuels and to inequitable and unsustainable energy and land use.

Extreme weather events have become more common and more severe as a result, posing grave threats to life and property across the globe. Heat waves, heavy rainfall, and other weather extremes are becoming more common and more dangerous, posing a threat to human health and ecosystems.

The IPCC notes that not only are people dying from such effects all over the world, but man-made climate change is exacerbating problems of food and water insecurity. The risks become even more difficult to manage when they are compounded by other recent unfavorable events, such as pandemics or geopolitical conflicts.

“Climate justice is crucial because those who have contributed least to climate change are being disproportionately affected,” said Aditi Mukherji, one of the 93 authors of this Synthesis Report, the closing chapter of the Panel’s sixth assessment.

“Almost half of the world’s population lives in regions that are highly vulnerable to climate change. In the last decade, deaths from floods, droughts and storms were 15 times higher in highly vulnerable regions,” she added.

The IPCC report, which was approved after a weeklong session in Interlaken, Switzerland, puts into sharp focus the losses and damages countries are already experiencing and will continue to experience, especially hitting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems. The world can only become more sustainable and equitable if we take the necessary steps right now.

To reduce the gap between current adaptation and what is needed, the IPCC emphasized that swift action to adapt to climate change is required within this decade. Meanwhile, drastic, rapid, and sustained cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors are necessary to keep warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This means that emissions need to be halved between now and 2030.

Climate-resilient development is the key to solving this problem. To do so, it is necessary to coordinate efforts to adapt to climate change with those to mitigate or prevent the release of greenhouse gases.

Low-carbon electrification, walking, cycling, and public transportation all contribute to better air quality, which in turn benefits health, as well as employment prospects and equity. The costs of reducing or avoiding emissions could be offset by the economic benefits to public health from improved air quality alone.

Enabling sustainable development

With each degree of warming, it becomes that much harder to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is because of this compounding characteristic that makes climate change humanity’s biggest and most important challenge.

The IPCC stressed that decisions made in the coming years will have a profound impact on the future of every country. These decisions must be grounded in our various scientific, indigenous, and local knowledge as well as shared values and worldviews if they are to be effective. This method will help with climate-resilient development and allow for socially-acceptable, locally-based solutions.

“The greatest gains in well-being could come from prioritizing climate risk reduction for low-income and marginalized communities, including people living in informal settlements,” said Christopher Trisos, one of the report’s authors. “Accelerated climate action will only come about if there is a many-fold increase in finance. Insufficient and misaligned finance is holding back progress.”

The IPCC report contains various practical and effective strategies and policy suggestions for leaders seeking climate action.

For one, the report notes that there is enough money in the world to quickly cut emissions of greenhouse gases if only the obstacles standing in the way could be removed. To accomplish global climate goals, it is crucial to increase financing for climate investments.

The governments’ role in lowering these barriers is crucial, both through public funding and clear signals to investors. Financial stakeholders such as investors, central banks, and regulators can all contribute.

There are tried and true policy measures that, if scaled up and applied more broadly, can work to achieve deep emissions reductions and climate resilience. Effective and equitable climate action requires political commitment, coordinated policies, international cooperation, ecosystem stewardship, and inclusive governance.

Reduced or eliminated carbon-intensive consumption is possible for every community if there is the initiative to share technology, know-how, and appropriate policy measures, and if sufficient funding is made available. Conversely, rising risks can be prevented, especially for vulnerable groups and regions, if adaptation is made a priority.

There is also a link between climate, ecosystems, and human civilization. The IPCC report notes that about 30%-50% of land, freshwater, and ocean needs to be effectively and equitably conserved to ensure a healthy planet. In order to advance development on a global scale, cities need to capitalize on the unique opportunity to develop sustainable models of living.

Greenhouse gas emissions can be also lowered by making adjustments in agriculture, power generation, transportation, industry, construction, and use of land. Simultaneously, they can facilitate low-carbon lifestyles that are better for people’s health and happiness. People can make more educated decisions when they have a firmer grasp of the repercussions of their consumption habits.

“Transformational changes are more likely to succeed where there is trust, where everyone works together to prioritize risk reduction, and where benefits and burdens are shared equitably,” IPCC’s Mr. Lee said.

“We live in a diverse world in which everyone has different responsibilities and different opportunities to bring about change. Some can do a lot while others will need support to help them manage the change.” — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR