Climate change solutions lie with poor communities

By Robert L. Domoguen, Philippine Country Programme Management Team Member

Experts discussing their topics on agriculture and climate change at the 3rd IFAD-Philippines Knowledge and Learning Market (KLM) sessions this morning (21 October 2009) said that the poor are not to be blamed for this weather anomaly’s occurrence and destruction on the nation.

The poor are the least responsible, if we are searching for someone to blame for climate change. Still, they are the most vulnerable and suffer all types of hardships that are likely to emerge as a result, according to Ms. Marie Nunez of OXFAM.

Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng brought the reality of the impact of climate change into our doors. Filipinos have yet to take into account the long-term consequences of the destruction wrought by both typhoons. Another super typhoon, code named Ramil is threatening North Luzon. It will force Filipinos, most of whom are unaware of scientific adaptation strategies for coping with climate change, to search for much needed solutions.

Climate change solutions lie with poor communities

In the Philippines, the search for climate change solutions must begin with participatory planning at all levels. Farmers groups, local government units (LGUs), government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) will need to sit together to understand and prepare actions to deal with climate change. The planning and execution of plans will also need to go beyond political boundaries. This is because the environment and consequences of climate change go beyond political boundaries, according to Mr. Eduardo Queblatin of UNDP.

Most Filipinos, especially the farmers, remain unaware of scientific adaptation strategies for coping with climate change. “However, we have braved the adversity associated with climate variability. We are responding to weather changes informally, the best way we can,” said Mr. Efren Arroyo, enterprise development coordinator of PAKISAMA. The latter is a nationwide farmers organization engaged in the promotion of organic agriculture. Arroyo said adaptations to climate change in the Philippines will need to consider farmers, fishermen and indigenous experiences in dealing with weather-related natural calamities. Strategies to cope with climate change will need to build on systems adapted to local philosophy, culture, and traditions.

The government has ratified numerous international climate change commitments including the Philippine Agenda 21. Popular participation remains a challenge to be addressed, Arroyo explained. His brief talk sought wide consultations on the government’s policy framework and for vulnerable poor communities who bear the brunt of climatic changes to be given opportunities to express themselves. There is a need to look into this information gap.

During the open forum, speakers agreed that the potential contributions from the poor communities must be sought in order to come up with an all inclusive plan. This will result in the crafting of plans and policies that are useful to and widely supported by them. When the results are dependent on the people, more effort is needed to strengthen the capacity of local people as well as to improve on their experiences and traditional knowledge in order to develop relevant techniques that can be included in national policies. -30-