Climate Change

Keynote Speech for the Philippine Science Journalists Association Inc.
26 July 2007, PHIVOLCS Auditorium
Diliman, Quezon City

Most scientists today agree that human activity has severely altered the environment, and has caused the drastic climate changes we are now experiencing today.

A UK government-commissioned study by former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern suggests that hundreds of millions of people could suffer from hunger, water shortages and coastal flooding as the world gets warmer. Stern warns that if the global emission of greenhouse gases continues unchecked, the devastation could equal the loss of two World Wars and the Depression combined, or in financial terms about $7 trillion.

The study lists down first world countries such as the United States, Japan, France, Italy and the UK, as well as countries with burgeoning populations such as India and China, as causes of concern. The Kyoto Protocol requires industrialized countries reduce their collective emissions of greenhouse gases by 5.2% below the 1990 level. So far no country has complied.

But over here at the side of developing countries, we also suffer the brunt of the climate change because we have less resources to cope with it.

Extreme weather changes have been costing us billions of pesos. The tropical cyclones from 1975 to 2002, for instance, have resulted to losses of 4.578 billion pesos worth of agriculture products and damages to property. On the other hand, the drought in Mindanao in 1998 has resulted to 828 million pesos worth of crop losses. And the damages are only getting worse, not only in terms of pesos, but in terms of Filipino lives. Last year alone, the compound effects of the three major typhoons - Milenyo, Paeng, and Reming - have caused 808 deaths, 2652 wounded and 820 missing.

These statistics may be ominous, but I believe we are doing our respective parts in making sure that we prevent such disasters from happening again.

In a global survey conducted by Social Weather Stations in 2006, 76% of Filipinos want the global warming issue addressed. In particular, the survey showed that education is pivotal in shaping the public opinion regarding global warming, and rallying mass support towards addressing it.

The increased awareness in this issue is no doubt largely thanks to you, members of the Philippine Science Journalists Association, and your commitment to making the threats of global warming reach the consciousness of Filipinos. Thank you, for steering the country's attention towards constructive news, news that matter and affect the lives of our countrymen.

For our part in the Senate, I have filed a bill towards further promoting the use of natural renewable energy in the country. Being situated near the periphery of the Asia-Pacific is advantageous for the Philippines, as it endows us with a vast potential for natural renewable energy resources. These NRE resources include biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower and ocean energy. It is high time we start using these NRE resources for the benefit of every Filipino.

If passed, the Renewable Energy Act is a double-win for the Philippines. First, it renews our country's commitment towards protecting the environment, and to the related United Nations treaties we have entered into. Using natural renewable energy lessens the country's reliance towards fossil fuels as sources of energy, which contribute immensely to the global warming.

Second, the promotion of natural renewable energy resources could provide a viable alternative to providing electricity to off-grid barangays. It would address the perennial problem of high electricity tariff and speed up the extension of service coverage to all barangays by 2010 and the connection of all potential consumers by 2018. This could mean the end of power shortages in the country.

Admittedly, much should still be done to cushion the Philippines from the effects of global warming.

We need to know the problem more than at surface-level if we want to effectively solve it. Global warming poses as one of the biggest threat to the world's nations, if not to the entire human civilization. Tackling the problem of climate change requires scientific knowledge and extensive research - two things which, sadly, our country is lagging behind.

This brings me to the issue of competency in science, technology and engineering research. All around the region, we see our neighboring countries pouring in huge investments and government funds in science. At the same time, we see their economies booming. Between 1995 and 2005 China more than doubled the percentage of its GDP invested in R&D, South Korea spends almost $20 billion for research, and Japan is now reaping the benefits of their foresight as regards to technological investment.

Indeed, the world has changed dramatically. Today a country develops because its people are creative; it has the capacity for innovation. Talent has become the world's most sought-after commodity.

If we want to benefit from this trend and not be left behind by a rapidly moving world, we must be equipped with the right skills. We must have the capacity for innovation. Filipinos must become competitive.

Unfortunately, our country's competitiveness slid down 29 places since 2001 - from 48th our of 80 countries in 2001, to our current position as the 77th competitive economy in the world out of 117 countries.

The country has the lowest number of scientists and engineers doing R&D, with only 108 per one million population, compared to Singapore's 4,613 and Malaysia's 726. China and India are emerging as technology titans, with India producing 350,000 engineers and China producing 600,000 annually - which when combined surpasses the number of engineering graduates produced by the US by more than tenfold.

In fact, a study of international trends in Mathematics and Science shows that Filipino students performed poorly compared with students from other countries: we are placing at No. 41 and 42 in the mathematics and science examinations taken by high school students in 45 countries.

Raising our level of competitiveness, therefore, will require solid investment in human resource development, especially in basic science and engineering. A comprehensive review of the state of our country's competitiveness is urgent and necessary, with special focus on science and engineering.

Fortunately though, we are already starting the work. When the session convenes this month, Congress will constitute a Congressional Commission on Science, Technology and Engineering Research and Development or COMSTE.

COMSTE, which I authored in the 13th Congress will look into the country's science, engineering and technology research and development sector.

The Commission will undertake a thorough review of the science education system in both public and private schools at all levels but particularly graduate education. It will submit its findings and recommendations and an action plan for boosting science education and engineering R&D.

From there, we can lay down the grounds for improvement and innovation.

Our goal is to uplift the living standards of Filipinos through technological innovation. Our people's natural creativity and inventiveness are all there for the tapping - we just haven't fully taken advantage.

I always say our people are our best resource - and that especially holds true in this time of rapid and extensive technological change.

With your continued help and the government's proactive stance in battling for environmental preservation and protection, as well as scientific and technological innovation, we could not only battle the global warming threat; but a greener, cleaner, more developed Philippines is definitely possible.

Thank you.