DENR Invites Public Participation Against Climate Change

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called for greater public participation in environmental protection to combat climate change that aggravates the impact of natural calamities like super typhoon Yolanda.

In its “State of the Philippine Environment” report made known during the celebration of the Earth Day, the DENR said that while
progress is being made, much more needs to be done to protect the environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

“We have done much. But there is still much more to be done,” DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio Jr. said in a speech at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City, where the Earth Day celebration was held on Tuesday.

Ignacio said the government formulates various policies for environmental protection but these turn out to be successful if there is active participation by the general public.

The environment official said the threat from global warming is real and urgent, citing a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate on Climate Change that if greenhouse gases continue to rise, global temperature will increase 3.5 to 4 degrees centigrade by the 21st century, double the target increase of 2 degrees centigrade.

In fact, Ignacio said the Philippine government – through the DENR and other concerned agencies – has recently made positive progress in environmental protection and in ensuring effective mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

He said that even prior to Yolanda, which has given the country the stark reminder of the vulnerability of its communities to extreme weather events, the DENR has already came up with measures to prevent or minimize the loss of lives and properties during disasters.

The DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau has already completed the geohazard mapping of the entire Philippines at 1:50,000 scale and distributed 85,000 map sheets showing where landslides and flooding can occur at the barangay level.

It is also expected to complete this year a more detailed geohazard mapping covering all cities and municipalities at a scale of 1:10,000.

The 3D version of these geohazard maps will also be out soon.

Image Credit: www.cenergy.ph