Adapt to to reduce risks, small enterprises told

Business World Online (Philippines): Even small businesses have to adapt to unavoidable changes in climate and help mitigate their adverse effects, experts said in a forum organized by the Institute for Small-Scale Industries at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman early this month.

The afternoon-long symposium focused on how micro, small, and medium scale enterprises (MSMEs) can address the ill effects of climate change, and at the same time reduce the unnecessary risks to, or even improve, business operations. Saying climate change is inevitable, speakers from the government, private sector and the academe offered options for both small enterprises and individuals to keep climate-driven disasters at bay.

In his welcome remarks to an audience of fellow faculty, students and UP system officials, Institute Director Nestor Rañeses said businesses should “create more” by using less polluting materials in the new era of climate change. The innovative approach ensures sustainable consumption while improving the productive use of limited resources.

The local economy should not entirely be dependent on greenhouse gas-emitting resources and linked to an increasingly de-carbonized, de-materialized global economy. Dennis de la Torre, chief of staff at the Climate Change Commission, the lead agency implementing the national framework strategy for climate change, said adaptation is the less bitter pill to take over mitigation….

A 50 peso note from the Phillipines, from 1885