Sixteenth typhoon of the year on its way. Philippine environmentalists: climate emergency

Caritas and diocesan representatives also joined the global march for climate justice in Quezon City. In the run-up to Cop29, the country hosting the board of the Fund to Support Countries Affected by Climate Change (FRLD) is preparing for the arrival of storm Man-yi, after the passage of Ofel. More than 250 casualties in 2024.

Manila (AsiaNews) - Declare a climate emergency. This is what 4,000 environmentalists, who today joined the global march for climate justice in Quezon City, are demanding of the Philippine government. While the Asian archipelago awaits Man-yi, the 16th typhoon of the year, which could hit the eastern regions over the weekend, and in Baku, Azerbaijan, the 19th UN Climate Change Conference (Cop29) is underway.

Protesters called for a phase-out of fossil fuels, more global funding to reduce harmful emissions and measures to adapt to the impacts of climate change. They included Caritas Philippines, the social development wing of the Catholic Bishops' Conference (CBCP), and other representatives from diocesan social action centres, integral ecology ministries, congregations and religious organisations.

An intervention that would lend lustre to the climate leadership of the country that in July 2024 was chosen to host the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), established by Cop and Cma (Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement), whose mandate includes ‘a focus on loss and damage management to assist developing countries particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change to cope with the economic and non-economic losses and damages associated with the adverse effects of climate change’.

Over the past six months in the Philippines, storms, typhoons and severe tropical cyclones - including Carina, Enteng, Julian, Leon, Kristine and Marce - have killed more than 250 people and inflicted damage in excess of 25 billion pesos (more than 400 million euros).

The latest typhoon, Usagi (Ofel is the local name), has weakened in the last few hours, having hit northern cities, particularly Baggao, destroying many homes. It is now heading towards Taiwan, but there is no respite.

According to the Pag-usa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), Man-yi, which is intensifying in the western Pacific, could become a super typhoon in the early hours of Sunday. Preventive evacuations of residents in the areas through which this umpteenth storm will pass are scheduled to begin tomorrow.

As Reuters points out, last month Tropical Storm Trami and Typhoon Kong-rey caused severe flooding and triggered landslides, resulting in 162 deaths and 22 missing, according to government data.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said four storms hit the western Pacific Ocean at the same time this month, the first time this has happened since records began in 1951. In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest ever recorded, hit the central city of Tacloban, killing more than 6,000 people. Every year, on average, about 20 tropical storms hit the Philippines, bringing heavy rains, strong winds and deadly landslides.

The call from environmentalists is to act quickly to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help prevent an ecological catastrophe that endangers the planet and the well-being of all living things, said Jing Rey Henderson, an official of Caritas Philippines. And so recognising the interconnectedness of all living organisms and the fundamental responsibility to protect them is crucial. ‘We also recognise the inalienable right of nature to exist and thrive so that it can fulfil its function of preserving the environment in which all living things can live,’ he added.

This is why it is of paramount importance to declare a climate emergency. This means firstly, recognising that the entire ecosystem and humanity are in danger of extinction and that swift and calculated action is needed to mitigate or halt the irreversible effects of climate change. Secondly, to maintain the goal of not exceeding the 1.5°C increase in global temperatures until 2030: to this end, all sectors must take coordinated and planned actions, with the government as the main responsible party.

The country must also reduce emissions in various sectors, as well as land use. And it is essential to protect forests and other natural ecosystems, such as the oceans, which act as crucial carbon sinks, helping to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Finally, it is crucial to support and safeguard the well-being of indigenous peoples, environmental defenders and local communities who act as custodians and peacefully coexist with their environment. Sustainable production and consumption play a crucial role in the implementation of laws such as the Alternative Minerals Management and Rights of Nature proposals, which aim at sustainable management of waste and natural resources.