By Raymart Escopel
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 has enumerated ways to prevent the ill effects of climate change.
During the national launching of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Advocacy, DENR-6 Regional Technical Director for Research Alicia Lustica said that even in simple ways, the public can help reduce the effects of climate change and global warming.
In her presentation, Lustica noted that the Philippines ranked fifth on the countries which are vulnerable to climate change and first in the whole world in terms of disaster.
She added how unconscious humans are with their contribution to climate change through activities such as burning of fossil fuel, deforestation, industrial activities, motor vehicle emission, improper waste management practices and intensive agriculture.
Lustica noted that climate change is caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere. GHG is a gas such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone present in the atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared.
She added how ordinary activities such as watching the television, driving a car, playing on your mobile phone, listening to radio/stereo, using washing machine, using an electric fan, air condition and microwave, applying fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides can contribute to the increase of GHG.
With that, she bared simple ways to prevent climate change and minimize carbon footprint by turning off appliances, being exact in measuring water, not using plastic, using electric fan instead of air condition and practicing the 4Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle and refuse).
Climate Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act 9729), refers to a change in climate that can be identified by changes in the mean and/or variability of its properties and that persists for an extended period typically decades or longer, due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.
Meanwhile, global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth’s near surface air and oceans that is associated with the increased concentration of GHG in the atmosphere.
The national launching of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Advocacy was held on June 25 to intensify DENR’s program in preventing the further complications brought by climate change and global warming./PN
