Philippines: seventh most vulnerable to impact of climate change!

The Philippines is seventh in a list of 233 nations ranked according to the most vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather conditions that climate change may bring about by 2015. This is according to a study conducted by World Bank economist David Wheeler. The expected impact takes into account the number of people that is foreseen to be adversely affected by rises in sea levels, agricultural loss, and each country's ability to cope with these on the basis of its population and inherent resilience.

The nations in the top ten most vulnerable (in order of decreasing rank) are China , Djibouti, India, Kenya, Somalia, Mozambique, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia.

According to ScientificAmerican.com, such lists are becoming increasingly important as the search for a reliable criteria to be applied in the disbursement of aid coming out of the Green Climate Fund continues.

The new agreement creates “building blocks” for a new global pact and, unexpectedly, gives recognition to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from industrial countries by 25 to 40 per cent from 1990 levels within the next 10 years.

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The accord establishes a multibillion dollar annual Green Climate Fund to help developing countries cope with climate change, though it doesn't say how the fund's money is to be raised.

It also sets rules for internationally funded forest conservation, and provides for climate-friendly technology to expanding economies.

As far as political will goes, the Philippines holds little promise that significant change will happen when it comes to "greening" the country. Its capital city, Manila, is the only major southeast Asian city rated "below average" in the recently-published Asian Green City Index. The Philippines is also rated by Conversation International as one of the world's top ten destroyers of forests, and its society has an extensive track record of focusing on irrelevant matters even as weather disturbances devastate its cities.

Indeed, in the aftermath of the recently-concluded 25th Anniversary celebration of the 1986 "People Power" EDSA "revolution" that many Filipinos see as their finest moment in time, Manila looked filthier than its usual filthy.

The EcoWaste Coalition, citing information from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said six six-wheeler dump trucks were used to haul trash from the area yesterday morning.

“We’re very disappointed to see assorted garbage scattered around the People Power Monument and adjacent spots as the historic occasion is commemorated,” EcoWaste president Roy Alvarez said. “The garbage-strewn stretch of EDSA, particularly from Corinthian Gardens to Gate 5 of Camp Aguinaldo, is a stark reminder of the country’s chronic problem with littering that simply has to go.”

The group said plastic bags, polystyrene food containers, plastic cups and bottles, cigarette butts and discarded advertising materials from real estate, telecommunication and other commercial entities comprised most of the litter left behind.

It is indeed a monumental challenge for a people with a strong tradition of tolerance for filth to look to the future with a real grasp of what survival -- more so progress -- entails.