The era of new normal

After 2 months of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), most of the areas in the Philippines have shifted to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), meanwhile, NCR and other areas are now under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). With the final guidelines, the same quarantine restrictions are being applied, but slight changes were made as most of the …

Turtle food market

Turtles are important creatures of seas and oceans that play a vital role in maintaining the health of flora and the coral reefs of the marine ecosystem. Sea turtles are also helpful in adequately balancing the marine food web. Tortoises are among the animals with the longest lifespan. They help preserve our oceans' natural productivity. …

Climate change and wildfires

Last February, a wildfire started to break out in the forest in Kabayan, Benguet and continued to spread over other parts of Cordillera Mountains, including parts of Mt. Pulag, the highest mountain in Luzon. With these fires, Mt. Pulag is temporarily closed to climbers and trekkers.  Meanwhile, this April, forest fires were recorded in unprotected …

Sustainable Tuna Fishing

Most of the countries depend on tuna fish for food safety and nutrition, economic growth, employment, and livelihoods as it is used in many countries around the world. The Philippines is the world’s third largest tuna producer, with almost half of its seafood exports come from yellowfin, skipjack, and frigate tuna which produces appetizing products …

The youth as drivers of climate action

Whether through educational, awareness-raising, behavioral change campaigns, technology, science or law ─ the youth are tapping into their skills to speak up for climate action. On top of the usual adolescent pressures — grades, socialization, etc. — the youth are confronting a world that may be unrecognizable by the time they grow up. As stated …

The role of media in tackling crisis – COVID-19, climate change

The media are working round-the-clock and keeping the public informed on the latest developments and vital information about coronavirus disease (COVID-19), while risking their lives in the process. Just like the doctors and nurses, they are also considered to be on the frontlines of this global pandemic. When most people have to stay home due …

Water conservation in anticipation of summer season

Water is an important resource this time, not only because of the summer season, but water is severely used for sanitation purposes and prevention of spreading of the COVID-19 virus. We use water for constantly washing our hands, for disinfecting our spaces, for cleaning-up our communities. But as the water demand increases, the available water …

Bayanihan to Heal as One Act

Following the declaration of State of Calamity throughout the Philippines, imposing of Enhanced Community Quarantine throughout Luzon and raising the COVID-19 to Code Red Sublevel 2, the RA11469 was enacted, declaring a state of national emergency over the entire country and granting the President with powers to immediately be able to implement measures to effectively …

COVID-19 and the PH’s NDC submission: delivering climate justice

The spread of COVID-19 across the world has seen countries go into lockdown to limit the casualties attributable to the virus. Due to tougher travel restrictions implemented, international climate negotiations that require diplomats and experts from all over the world to participate are also affected, forcing most of the meetings to be postponed.  The United …

Limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5°C

According to 2019 Statement on the State of the Global Climate, the year 2019 ended with a global average temperature of 1.1 °C above estimated pre-industrial averages, second only to the record set in 2016. Without the role of El Niño in the warming increase observed in 2016, 2019 would have been a record year. …

Will coronavirus slow down climate action?

The COVID-19 has much taken over the world. In just a few short months, most of the regions have locked down. The government has to implement the enhanced community quarantine on the entire Luzon. Everyone is strictly enforced to stay at home and practice social distancing. Curfew is imposed, only one person in every household …

Climate change and biodiversity loss

The earth’s biodiversity is dependent on the climate. But anthropogenic actions resulting in changes in climate cause a major global threat to biodiversity and natural ecosystems. The various elements of climate change affect all levels of biodiversity, and its impacts are expected to increase over the next century, resulting in biodiversity loss. The Convention of …