KELAN TAYO MAKAKAAHON SA BAHA?

Hindi pa nga nakakabawi ang bansa sa katatapos na mga bagyo, heto na naman ang Tropical Storm Enteng na sumalanta sa Luzon. Nagbuhos ito ng malakas na monsoon rains, binaha ang buong Metro Manila at mga karatig-probinsya. Paano na?

Nangangailangan na talaga ng climate action — as if kaya nating sabihan ang bagyo na “huminto ka na! Tama na, sobra na!”

Ayon Kay Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Khevin Yu, “Communities trying to recover from previous climate impacts are forced to address yet another cycle of flooding and intense rainfall. While still reeling from the effects of Super Typhoon Carina, and with Manila Bay still at great risk as siphoning operations are still ongoing at the site of the sunken MT Terranova, we are again forced to deal with another extreme weather event in Tropical Storm Enteng.

“There is more evidence than ever that this barrage of typhoons is the product of industry-level carbon emissions. A recent study by World Weather Attribution showed that Typhoon Carina was strengthened by human induced climate change, stating that Typhoons like Carina are now likely to happen 6-7 times annually because of climate change, and be 7% more intense.[1]

“Our existing urban plans and flood control infrastructure are not able to withstand such extreme and frequent climate change-driven flooding and are in dire need of major upgrades and repairs. But governments and citizens—who are already suffering high inflation and other economic woes—should not be the ones to foot the bill. Oil and gas companies, those most responsible for the climate crisis, should be the ones answering for the loss and damage.

“As the host of the UN Loss and Damage Board, the Philippines should lead in exacting accountability from climate polluters and take this opportunity to demand climate justice. The Marcos Jr. administration must ensure the swift passage of the Climate Accountability Bill—which seeks to hold oil, gas, and coal companies to account. We have to reiterate that what we are experiencing now and the extreme weather events we are expected to face are reminders that the situation is already dire, and that the time for determined climate action isn’t now but yesterday.”

Ngunit kahit ano pang panawagan at meeting ang gawin, naniniwala ka­ming wala pa ring mang­yayari kung gobyerno lamang ang kikilos. Dapat ay nagkakaisa ang lahat upang pangalagaan ang kalikasan.

RLVN