Lalo bang maghihirap ang mga mahirap dahil sa climate change? | Need to Know

Summary

The Philippines faces escalating poverty due to climate change, with unemployment at 2 million and a poverty rate spiking to 42% in 2024's first quarter. Climate hazards, like typhoons, threaten food security, affecting 70 million island dwellers who depend on agriculture and fishing. The country could lose 7.6% of its GDP by 2030 without intervention. The government's National Adaptation Plan, with a P457.4 billion budget for 2024, aims to mitigate these effects, focusing on food security, workforce, water supply, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. International support is crucial for capacity building, technology transfer, and climate finance.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Philippines faces a significant unemployment issue with two million people currently out of work amidst a population of over one hundred million.
• 📉 The poverty rate has seen a sharp increase, from 22.4% in 2023 to 42% in the first quarter of 2024, with a new category of 'new poor' emerging due to recent poverty experiences.
• 🌡️ Climate change is identified as a major driver of this escalating poverty, with its impacts expected to worsen the situation further.
• 🌾 Food security is a primary concern, as the Philippines' agricultural sector, which contributes 8.6% to the national income, is highly vulnerable to climate hazards like typhoons.
• 🌡️ Rising temperatures could lead to a 10% decrease in rice yields for every 1°C increase, resulting in an estimated annual loss of P18.81 billion in agriculture.
• 🐟 The importance of fish as a protein source for Filipinos is highlighted, with the potential for food security to be compromised without intervention.
• 📉 The economic impact of climate change is substantial, with a projected 7.6% loss of GDP by 2030 if no action is taken, amounting to around P1.4 trillion.
• 👷‍♂️ Climate change affects the workforce and employment, with around 25% of the workforce being fisherfolks and farmers whose livelihoods are at risk.
• 🔥 Extreme heat, such as the 47°C recorded in April, can lead to a loss of working hours, with the UN predicting a 1% loss by 2025 due to climate-induced heat.
• 💧 The Philippines is also at risk of water shortages by 2040, exacerbating the issue for the 90% of Filipinos who are already deprived of clean water.
• 🛡️ The Climate Change Commission has created policies and the National Adaptation Plan to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and increase the country's adaptive capacity.
• 💼 The government has allocated significant funding, P457.4 billion for fiscal year 2024, to support various climate change adaptation and mitigation projects.
• 🌳 Initiatives such as the People’s Survival Fund and planting mangrove forests are part of the adaptation strategies to enhance resilience against climate change.
• 🔍 The emphasis is on improving the capacity for adaptation and transformation at the local government level, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions for mitigation.
• 🤝 International support is crucial for capacity building, technology development and transfer, and climate finance to assist the Philippines in combating climate change.

Q & A

What is the current unemployment rate in the Philippines according to the script?

The script states that out of over one hundred million people in the Philippines, two million are unemployed.

How has the poverty rate changed from 2023 to the first quarter of 2024 in the Philippines?

The poverty rate was 22.4% in 2023, and it increased to 42% during the first quarter of 2024.

What is the 'new poor' category mentioned in the script?

The 'new poor' category refers to individuals and communities that are only recently experiencing poverty due to climate change.

What impact does climate change have on food security in the Philippines?

Climate change affects food security by exposing the country, comprised of over 7,000 islands, to extreme weather events like typhoons, which can impact agriculture, including farming and fishing, that constitutes 8.6% of the Philippines' income.

How does climate change affect rice yields in the Philippines according to the International Rice Research Institute?

Rice yields could decrease by 10% for every 1°C increase in temperature, which equates to an annual loss of P18.81 billion in agriculture.

What is the potential economic impact of climate change on the Philippines by 2030 if no interventions are made?

The impact could be 7.6% of the GDP by 2030, which is around P1.4 trillion of GDP that could be lost.

How does climate change affect the workforce and employment in the Philippines?

Climate change impacts the workforce as around 25% of it consists of fisherfolks and farmers. If they don't earn a living or their land becomes unproductive, it affects the economy.

What is the projected loss of working hours by 2025 due to extreme heat according to the United Nations?

One percent of working hours will be lost by 2025 due to extreme heat.

How does the Philippines' water supply situation relate to climate change?

The Philippines is expected to experience water shortage by 2040, which is a concern considering that 90% of Filipinos are already deprived of clean water.

What is the National Adaptation Plan and what does it aim to do?

The National Adaptation Plan outlines the framework for addressing deficiencies and strengthening systems to increase the country's adaptive capacity to climate change across different sectors.

What financial commitment has the Philippine government made towards climate change adaptation in the fiscal year 2024?

The government allocated P457.4 billion for fiscal year 2024, which is 7.93% of the National Adaptation Plan's budget.

What is the People’s Survival Fund and how is it intended to be used?

The People’s Survival Fund is an initiative with over one billion pesos allocated for local government units to use for climate change projects, such as planting mangrove forests.

What are the four components of the 4Ps program mentioned in the script?

The 4Ps program includes perceptiveness, planning, policy compliance, and preparedness.