For example, in addition to being one of the world's most vulnerable cities to climate change due to geographical location, Manila has also been shaped by globalization and abides by many tenants of neoliberal urbanism, including "a strong focus on private sector led development, attracting global capital, market oriented policies and decentralization".These cities experience challenges to their own climate resilience due to this double exposure to climate change and globalization, where many cities are most at risk to climate events in addition to having a large percentage of the population live in informal settlements with weak infrastructure.Four million people, or about a third of Manila's population, lives in informal settlements which puts them at higher risk and danger from tropical storms and flooding, and they often have fewer resources available to recover from damages caused by environmental hazards. Such settlements often result after consideration of the … Overview of the environmental issues in the Philippines, Agricultural production and civil conflict. The vast majority uses flush toilets connected to septic tanks. Since sludge treatment and disposal facilities are rare, most effluents are discharged without treatment. The ocean has acted as a carbon sink for earth for millennia and is currently slowing the rate of global warming through the sequestration of carbon. 0000002127 00000 n [22] Increases in extreme weather events will have devastating affects on agriculture. The proportion of urban residents who have convenient access to public transport (defined as living within 500 m walking distance of a bus stop and within 1,000 m of a railway and/or … [28] Sea levels around the Philippines are projected to rise 0.48 to 0.65 meters by 2100, which exceeds the global average for rates of sea level rise. ... typhoons pose an enormous risk to the Philippines’ infrastructure. 0000000667 00000 n [12], According to scholar Jessica Mathews, short-sighted policies by the Filipino government have contributed to the high rate of deforestation:[13]. [5], Only 5% of the total population is connected to a sewer network. Kahana, Ron, et al. [29][30] Typhoon Haiyan crucially damaged over 1.1 million houses across the country and displaced over 4.1 million people. [26] Tied for being the strongest landfalling tropical typhoon on record, Typhoon Haiyan had wind speeds of over 300 km/h (almost 190 mph) which triggered major storm surges that wreaked havoc on many places in the country. (2016). The Philippines' evident risk to natural disasters is due to its location. [29] The category 5 typhoon continued to travel west, making landfall in several municipalities, and ultimately devastated enormous stretches of the Philippines islands of Samar, Leyte, Cebu, and the Visaya archipelago. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. However, neglecting to have a coherent environmental policy has led to the contamination of 58% of the groundwater in the Philippines. 0000046419 00000 n A giant storm would wreak havoc on these informal settlements and cause the deaths and displacement of millions of people who inhabit 25 different coastline cities. 0000001496 00000 n The Philippines had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 5.91/10, ranking it 91st globally out of 172 countries. The increasing number of intense droughts are reducing water levels and river flows and thus creating a shortage in water. "[38][37][39], Environmental groups have asked Congress to pass a Human Rights Defenders Bill to help protect activists and their families.[38]. [22] Since the 1970s, the number of typhoons during the El Niño season has increased. [31] Combined with sea level rise, this stratification into more extreme seasons and climates increases the frequency and severity of storm surge, floods, landslides, and droughts. [26] 16 of its provinces, including Manila, Benguet, and Batanes, are included in the top 50 most vulnerable places in Southeast Asia, with Manila being ranked 7th. [40] The nation for the Sustainable Development Strategy includes assimilating environmental considerations in administration, apposite pricing of natural resources, conservation of biodiversity, rehabilitation of ecosystems, control of population growth and human resources development, inducing growth in rural areas, promotion of environmental education, strengthening citizens’ participation, and promoting small to medium-sized enterprises and sustainable agricultural and forestry practices. 0000000760 00000 n An estimated 25% of the world’s urban population live in informal settlements, with 213 million informal settlement residents added to the global population since 1990 (UN-Habitat, 2013b: 126–8). [34] Spanish colonial rule from the 1500s to 1898, America's annexation from 1898 to 1946, Japanese occupation and bombing during World War ll, Ferdinand Marcos' authoritarian regime from 1965 till 1986, and more have all contributed to an urban development focused on globalization, market oriented development, privatization, and decentralization. [25], Due to its geographical location, climate, and topography, the Philippines is ranked third on the World Risk Index for highest disaster risk and exposure to natural disasters. People in these settlements do not legally own the land they live on, have little access to public services and utilities, and often endure high costs and travel times to commute to the city for jobs that pay less than $15 a day. 45% of Philippines’ urban population lives in informal settlements with already weak infrastructure and are extremely vulnerable to flooding and typhoons. The agriculture sector employs 35% of the working population and generated 13% of the country's GDP in 2009. Ocean acidification has dire consequences as it causes coral bleaching and ultimately leads to the collapse of coral reefs (usaid). [22] Droughts and reduced rainfall leads to increased pest infestations that damage crops as well as an increased need for irrigation. [37] Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment recorded 46 deaths in 2019. [33] The agricultural sector is expected to see an estimated annual GDP loss of 2.2% by 2100 due to climate impacts on agriculture. These exacerbate risks to agriculture, energy, water, infrastructure, human health, and coastal ecosystems. [26] Leaving over 6,300 dead, 28,688 injured, and 1062 missing, Typhoon Haiyan is the deadliest typhoon on record in the Philippines. [22], Philippines share in the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is at 0.31%. CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (, Pasig River in Manila, one of the world's most polluted rivers, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, List of protected areas of the Philippines, List of threatened species of the Philippines, "Country Environmental Analysis for Philippines", "Philippines: Meeting Infrastructure Challenges", "Manila Water Company: Manila Water to build P105-M sewage treatment plant in Taguig", "Case study of sustainable sanitation projects. A horrendous 40 percent of the harvestable lumber never left the forests but, having been damaged in the logging, rotted or was burned in place. Currently, the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been busy tracking down illegal loggers and been spearheading projects to preserve the quality of many remaining rivers that are not yet polluted. [10] Illegal logging occurs in the Philippines[11] and intensifies flood damage in some areas. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its … [32] Rice, wheat, and corn crops are expected to see a 10% decrease in yield for every 1degree C increase over a 30dC average annual temperature. In 2016, just over 1 billion people lived in slums or informal settlements, with over half (589 million) living in East, South-East, Central and South Asia. [22], Several factors of climate change are impacting the availability of water in the Philippines. Large cities in the Philippines such as Manila, Quezon City, Cebu, and Davao City see an increased risk from both climate change and globalization.Double exposure, infrastructure planning, and urban climate resilience in coastal megacities: A case study of Manila|journal=Environment and Planning. As much a 41.8% of the country's GHG emissions come from the burning of coal and fuel oil for electricity generation. Informal settlements … [23] Nevertheless, the country is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. [19] While most local government units establish a Material Recovery Facility (MRF), implement segregation at the source, and collect and process all recyclable and biodegradable materials, most of the municipal solid wastes are either disposed in the dump sites or openly burned, which further worsen the quality of heavy polluted air in the cities. [14], Due to industrial waste and automobiles, Manila suffers from air pollution,[15][16] affecting 98% of the population. [33] Women are often relegated to be the caretakers of children which increases the burden and stress placed on them as well as inhibiting them from escaping from conflict ridden areas[33], Climate change could simultaneously reduce the Philippines’ supply of energy and increase its demand for energy. [23] GHG is the leading cause of global climate change. In Sustainable Cities , you will learn about the major challenges currently faced by urban areas around the world – including poverty, unemployment, poor housing infrastructure, and constraints on productivity – and the extraordinary potential of these areas to … 0000049096 00000 n One of the most devastating typhoons that hit the Philippines in 2013 was Typhoon Haiyan, or "Yolanda," that killed over 10,000 people and destroyed over a trillion pesos worth of properties and damage to various sectors. [27] Four cities in the Philippines, Manila, San Jose, Roxas, and Cotabato, are included in the top 10 cities most vulnerable to sea level rise in the East Asia and Pacific region. [22] This erosion from the loss of coral reefs and mangroves increase the chance of coastal flooding and the loss of land. The growth of informal settlements, slums and poor residential neighbourhoods is a global phenomenon accompanying the growth of urban populations. [22] Additionally, climate change will continue to increase the intensity of typhoons and tropical storms. Agriculture is one of the Philippines’ largest sectors and will continue to be adversely impacted by the effects of climate change. In 1994, there were around 300 townships and informal slums in the country; today, there … [34] Several factors and governments in the history of the Philippines has contributed to a large focus on urban development and its connection to "globalized systems of material production and consumption. [4] The national government recognized the problem and since 2004 has sought to introduce sustainable water resources development management (see below). [17] Annually, the air pollution causes more than 4,000 deaths. [9] In total, 46 species are endangered, and 4 have been eradicated completely. [22] Increased natural disasters not only directly contribute to the loss of human life, but also indirectly through food insecurity and the destruction of health services. This comes at a cost however as the oceans are becoming more and more acidic as they sequester more carbon dioxide. Since it takes 30–35 years for a second-growth forest to mature, loggers had no incentive to replant. [32] This above average rainfall is associated with “more conflict related incidents and casualties”. [29], Climate change has had and will continue to have drastic effects on the climate of the Philippines. A poor rice crop can lead to large impacts on the wellbeing of poor Filipino and cause widespread contempt for the government and more support for insurgent groups. [2], It is estimated that in 2025, water availability will be marginal in most major cities and in 8 of the 19 major river basins. Although water resources have become scarce in some regions and seasons, the Philippines as a whole has more than enough surface and groundwater. [7] The first Philippine constructed wetland serving about 700 households was completed in 2006 in a peri-urban area of Bayawan City which has been used to resettle families that lived along the coast in informal settlements and had no access to safe water supply and sanitation facilities. Climate change, heavy rains, and increased temperatures are linked with the increased transmission of vector and waterborne diseases like malaria, dengue, and diarrhea (who). From 1951–2010, the Philippines saw its average temperature rise by 0.65 degrees Celsius, with fewer recorded cold nights and more hot days. According to a recent study, over 70 per cent of urban residents live in informal settlements … Recognizing the need to tackle the environment issues as well as the need to sustain development and growth, the Philippines came up with the Sustainable Development Strategy. [32] The two most important crops, rice and corn, account for 67% of the land under cultivation and stand to see reduced yields from heat and water stress. [22] Coral reefs and mangroves also act as important feeding and spawning areas for many fish species that many fisher folk depend on for survival. Constructed wetland for a peri-urban housing area Bayawan City, Philippines", "Secondary forests in the Philippines: formation and transformation in the 20th century", "The State, Illegal Logging, and Environmental NGOs, in the Philippines", "Illegal logging a major factor in flood devastation of Philippines", "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity", "Metro Manila air polluted beyond acceptable levels", "POLLUTION ADVERSELY AFFECTS 98% OF METRO MANILA RESIDENTS", "Economic analysis of waste-to-energy investment in the Philippines: A real options approach", "Pasig now one of world's most polluted rivers", "CLIMATE CHANGE RISK IN THE PHILIPPINES: COUNTRY FACT SHEET", "Greenhouse gas emissions in PH rising: report", "This map shows why the Philippines is so vulnerable to climate change", "Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines", "Situational Report re Effects of Typhoon YOLANDA (HAIYAN)", "Climate change, agricultural production and civil conflict: Evidence from the Philippines", "The Philippines identified as the deadliest country for environmental activists", "Philippines is deadliest country for defenders of environment", "Threats, raids and murders stalk Filipino environment activists", "Killings of environmental defenders on the rise in the Philippines", "The Dangers Of Environmental Activism In The Philippines", "PHILIPPINE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A Conceptual Framework", "http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTURBANDEVELOPMENT/Resources/336387-1256566800920/6505269-1268260567624/Yuen.pdf", "Government Policies Pertaining to the Manufacturing Sector", "The Growth of Philippine Environmentalism", National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_issues_in_the_Philippines&oldid=1010218555, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from February 2021, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the Library of Congress Country Studies, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 4 March 2021, at 11:19. [22] The increased chance of extreme weather events would reduce hydropower production, which accounts for 20% of the country's energy supply, as well as cause widespread damage to energy infrastructure and services. Upon signing the 1992 Earth Summit,[42] the government of Philippines has been constantly looking into many different initiatives to improve the environmental aspects of the country. Compounding the error, flat royalties encouraged the loggers to remove only the most valuable species. [3] Besides severe health concerns, water pollution also leads to problems in the fishing and tourism industries. As an island country located in the Southeast Asia Pacific region, the Philippines is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. [28], At 04:40 on November 8, 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan, also known locally as “Yolanda”, made landfall in the Philippines in the Guiuan municipality. [22] Both coral reefs and mangroves help to reduce coastal erosion and supports water quality. %PDF-1.3 %���� [38] The group said activists have also been harassed, vilified, "red-tagged," and labeled as terrorists or "enemies of the state. [35][36] According to environmental watchdog Global Witness, at least 30 land and environmental defenders were killed in the Philippines in 2018, many of whom were in conflict with private business groups. Either during the informal procedures or later in the process, cases are often settled without resort to the full litigation process. [30] More than 16 million people were affected by the storm, suffering from the storm surge, flash floods, landslides, and extreme winds and rainfall that took lives, destroyed homes, and devastated many. [22] Rising sea levels increases salinity which leads to a loss of arable land and irrigation water. The opportunities are vast –but so, too, are the potential issues. 69 0 obj << /Linearized 1 /O 71 /H [ 760 435 ] /L 245938 /E 76842 /N 15 /T 244440 >> endobj xref 69 16 0000000016 00000 n [22] In 2009, the Philippines had the third highest number of casualties from natural disasters with the second most victims. [28] Specifically in the Philippines, average temperatures are “virtually certain” to see an increase of 1.8 to 2.2 degrees Celsius. H�b```f``������z�A��b�@�1���'La|��wt�� The government regularly granted logging concessions of less than ten years. In 2009, Tropical Storm Ketsana cost the Philippines $33 million to repair damaged roads and bridges. [21], One of the most pressing environmental issues impacting the Philippines is climate change. 0000004524 00000 n The heavy rains and increased temperatures lead to increased humidity which increases the chance of mosquito breeding and survival. About 25% of coastal municipalities in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao are affected by this and the issue is expected to get worse with sea level rise.[22]. [33] The effect that the combination of severe climate events and civil conflict has on Filipino women is further exacerbated by discriminatory policies, belief and practices, and restricted access to resources. [22], In the Philippines, there is a correlation between rainfall and civil conflict, and manifests through agricultural production. 0000005156 00000 n trailer << /Size 85 /Info 67 0 R /Root 70 0 R /Prev 244430 /ID[<4fbb766c259cb2a5983aa7658593100d><813037c1773d52a73acdc1fd7fc43636>] >> startxref 0 %%EOF 70 0 obj << /Type /Catalog /Pages 65 0 R /Metadata 68 0 R /PageLabels 63 0 R >> endobj 83 0 obj << /S 323 /L 392 /Filter /FlateDecode /Length 84 0 R >> stream [32] Climate change is expected to amplify the seasonal variation of rainfall in the Philippines and exacerbate ongoing civil conflict in the country. [41] One of the initiatives signed in part of the strategy was the 1992 Earth Summit. 0000001349 00000 n However, there are differences in how men and women experience these impacts and often lead to differences in farming patterns and coping strategies. [22] All of these impacts together have greatly affected the Philippines' agriculture, water, infrastructure, human health, and coastal ecosystems and they are projected to continue having devastating damages to the economy and society of the Philippines. 45% of Philippines’ urban population lives in informal settlements with already weak infrastructure and are extremely vulnerable to flooding and typhoons. [28] The country is consistently at risk from severe natural hazards including typhoons, floods, landslides, and drought. Based on an analysis of land use pattern maps and a road map, an estimated 9.8 million acres of forests were lost in the Philippines from 1934 to 1988. [22] There will also be an increase in: the number of days that exceed 35degree C; that have less than 2.5 mm of rainfall; and that have more than 300mm of rainfall. "Projections of mean sea level change for the Philippines." During these informal procedures, an enforcement action can sometimes be resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties. [22] Typhoon Haiyan alone cost the Philippines' agricultural sector an estimated US$724 million after causing 1.1 million tonnes of crop loss and destroying 600,000 ha of farmland. [22] The Philippines has not only seen 0.15 meters of sea level rise since 1940, but also seen 0.6 to 1 degree Celsius increase in sea surface temperatures since 1910, and 0.09 degree c increase in ocean temperatures since 1950. [8], Over the course of the 20th century the forest cover of the Philippines dropped from 70 percent down to 20 percent. 0000001174 00000 n We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Rising sea levels cause increased salinity that can have damaging impacts on the country's extensive system of mangroves. 0000004302 00000 n Future projections for the current trajectory of climate change predict that global warming is likely to exceed 3degrees Celsius, potentially 4degrees, by 2060. Issues of global environmental change have all the features characteristic of the most difficult technological controversies: awareness of human influence on the hazards, serious worst-case possibilities, the possibility of widespread and unintended side effects, delayed effects not easily attributable to specific causes, … [2] The main source of pollution is untreated domestic and industrial wastewater. [23] The Philippines, a signatory of the Paris climate accord, aims to cut its emissions by 70% by 2030. Only 3.2 percent of total rainforest is left. The memo indicates a shift in … [32], Smallholder farmers in the Philippines are expected to be among the most vulnerable and impacted by the effects of climate change in the region. [22], Climate change and global warming and the rising amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere has contributed to ocean warming and ocean acidification. [22], The Philippines is sometimes considered the most dangerous country for environmental activists. The unsurprising result of these and related policies is that out of 17 million hectares of closed forests that flourished early in the century only 1.2 million remain today. [33] This effectively widows women married to those men and leaves them on their own to take care of them and their children, even when the society and government makes it difficult for single mothers to succeed. [22] From 2006 to 2013, the Philippines experienced a total of 75 disasters that cost the agricultural sector $3.8 billion in loss and damages. In addition, the country is surrounded by large bodies of water and facing the Pacific Ocean where 60% of the world's typhoons are made. [22] Most areas in the Philippines will see reduced rainfall from March to May, while Luzon and Visayas will see increased heavy rainfall. Other environmental problems that the country is facing include pollution, illegal mining and logging, deforestation, dynamite fishing, landslides, coastal erosion, wildlife extinction, global warming and climate change. [28] It is located within a region that experiences the highest rate of typhoons in the world, averaging 20 typhoons annually, with about 7–9 that actually make landfall. 0000001195 00000 n Typhoons (high winds) and heavy rainfall contribute to the destruction of crops, reduced soil fertility, altered agricultural productivity through severe flooding, increased runoff, and soil erosion. 0000002088 00000 n [33] For example, climate change is linked to increase civil conflict in the Mindanao region which increases the number of casualties and deaths of young men in the area. Issues enforcement documents, both formal and informal, which may include assessed penalties Assists the Attorney General in developing enforcement cases and testifies in court Negotiates compliance schedules and penalty settlements [22] Many freshwater coastal aquifers have seen saltwater intrusion which reduces the amount of freshwater available for use. This article incorporates public domain material from the Library of Congress Country Studies website http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/. Key words: informal settlement, urbanization, land, environment and poverty SUMMARY Despite having a long history of physical planning, Zanzibar has been experiencing increasing problems associated with the informal settlements (IS). One of the most pressing environmental issues impacting the Philippines is climate change. [28] Over 60% of the coastal population depends on marine resources like coral reefs or mangroves for their contributions to fisheries, tourism, and storm protection. [22] These natural disasters will also cause millions of dollars in damages to urban infrastructure like bridges and roads. [18] According to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the country produces an average of 41 kilotons of garbage daily with almost 10 ktons/day coming from Metro Manila alone. [28] This temperature increase will stratify the local climate and cause the wet and dry seasons to be wetter and drier, respectively. B�8�X�&?8(����@eÜ����3� X7c�s��+�%��7y=h��"��M�3FEyFJ�mU�). Rising sea levels, heavy rainfall and flooding, and strong typhoons pose an enormous risk to the Philippines’ infrastructure. [1] Only one third of Philippine river systems are considered suitable for public water supply. [22] All of these factors contribute to higher prices of food and an increased demand for imports, which hurts the general economy as well as individual livelihoods. [33] Some of the problems caused by extreme climate events in agrarian areas that are prone to civil conflict that disproportionately affect women include loss of customary rights to land, forced migration, increased discrimination, resource poverty and food insecurity. [32] The rainfall has a negative effect on rice which is an important crop that a majority of the country depends on as both a food sources and employment. [22] There will be more power outages on average in addition to an increased demand for power, specifically cooling. On February 5, 2021, the acting head of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) division that brings environmental enforcement cases issued a memo revoking nine policy directives from the prior administration, including directives stating the division’s priorities and key enforcement principles. [22][28] During the time period from 1990 to 2006, the Philippines experienced a number of record-breaking weather events, including the strongest typhoon (wind speeds), the most destructive typhoons (damages), the deadliest storm (casualties), and the typhoon with the highest 24 hour rainfall on record. [20] According to a report in 2003, The Pasig River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world with 150 tons of domestic waste and 75 tons of industrial waste dumped daily. Sustainable development is the organizing principle for meeting human development goals while simultaneously sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. 0000002355 00000 n [6] According to the Asian Development Bank, the Pasig River is one of the world's most polluted rivers, running through the capital city of Manila. Being a country that lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. [22] The floods and landslides caused by extreme rainfall degrade watershed health and water quality by increasing runoff and erosion that increases sedimentation in reservoirs. Ermita is Manila's most air polluted district due to open dump sites and industrial waste. [29][30] According to the NDRRMC, the storm cost the Philippines about 3.64 billion US dollars.[30]. [24] GHG emissions in the Philippines is rising. [32] The increased rainfall during the wet season in the Philippines is proven to be harmful to agriculture as it leads to flooding and/or water logging. [1] In March 2008, Manila Water announced that a wastewater treatment plant will be constructed in Taguig. Some of these impacts include increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, sea level rise, extreme rainfall, global warming, resource shortages, and environmental degradation. 0000005078 00000 n The desired result is a state of society where living conditions and …