Philippines calls for progress in climate talks in typhoon devastation aftermath

Takver in Indymedia (Australia): Filipinos are fighting for survival amid worsening climate change according to the Philippine delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) round of talks in Panama. The main island of Luzon and the national capital Manila have been blasted and battered in late September and into early October by two consecutive typhoons which have killed at least 76 people and caused at least US$200 million in damage to infrastructure and agriculture.

"Millions of Filipinos are already suffering yet we are only seeing initial climate change impacts. Progress must be made in the climate treaty negotiations," said Commissioner Naderev “Yeb" Saño of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) in a media statement. "We are here in Panama to tell the world that climate change is a matter of life and death for the Philippines," Saño said.

The Panama Climate Change Conference runs from October 1 to 7, and is expected to set the tone for the Durban Conference of the Parties - COP17 - to be held in South Africa from 28 November - 9 December 2011.

...The Philippines experiences on average 19 tropical cyclones or typhoons each year of which some 6-9 usually make landfall. The two typhoons that struck the Island of Luzon were the Category 3 typhoon Nesat (Pedring), followed by Category 4 super typhoon Typhoon Nalgae (Quiel). Early on September 27, Typhoon Nesat struck the Philippines with a maximum 1-min sustained wind speed of 105 knots (194 km/h; 121 mph). Fifty five people have been confirmed dead and 2 missing, with destruction to infrastructure and agricultural crops an estimated US$200 million in damage. Storm surge and river flooding caused major disruptions cutting power and halting daily activity in Manila and other cities and towns. The typhoon was reported to have sent surging waves as tall as palm trees over seawalls completely submerging neighborhoods. The Philippine Stock Exchange and US embassy were both forced to close due to the strong winds, heavy rains and flooding of streets....

Typhoon Nalgae in September, 2011