Adaptation discussed in the Philippines

Manila Times (Philippines): Scientists warned the Philippines could experience famine by 2020, as the adverse impact of global warming takes its toll on natural resources. One of those scientists was Lourdes Tibig, climate data chief of the central office of the national weather agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pag-asa). She and others attended the roundtable discussion of scientists and community development practitioners on disaster and climate risk reduction and climate change adaptation, organized by the Center for Initiatives and Research on Climate Adaptation, of the Albay provincial government.

…“The impact of climate change on agriculture will be very bad,” she [said]. She said the observed mean annual temperature anomalies in the Philippines increased by 0.8904 degrees Celsius from 1951 to 2006. And she added that the increase in minimum temperature is almost three times the increase in maximum temperatures. “When there is an increase of temperature, expect more typhoons, and as the years progressed, typhoons are now crossing in Northern Luzon.” Tibig predicted that from 2050 and beyond, the agriculture sector will be vulnerable.

“If we do not act immediately, some 1.4 billion global population will adversely suffer from famine. So there is an urgent need to address the climate change phenomenon for us to adapt and mitigate the impact of it,” she said.

Director Shiela Encabo of the National Economic and Development Authority said climate change is causing more severe typhoons, like Reming that pummeled the Bicol region in 2006. That typhoon destroyed at least $90-million worth of agricultural products and infrastructure…..

…“There is a need for us to work together,” Encabo said. “Local initiatives across the country should be mobilized to address and adapt mitigation schemes on climate change. To date, only Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay initiated the project on climate change that are not waiting for an international assistance to go through adaptation.”…

Map of the Philippines, CIA World Factbook, Wikimedia Commons