10301467 October 17, 2017

Dy, Andrea Ivy R. Natural Resources & Environmental Law

EH 405 Mr. Guantero

It’s time to face the facts. Climate change is real and it is affecting our lives.

In the Philippines, we battle the constant change of our weather – one

moment it’s super sunny and hot, the next minute rain begins to pour. Tens of
thousands of people are dying in heat waves all over the world, even made worse
by global warming. Droughts in places like the Middle East and California have
intensified. In Hong Kong last August 2017, the city had to issue the highest storm
warning due to Typhoon Hato, closing their trading market, businesses, much of
the city’s public transportation and cancelling over 400 flights. Japan was also
visited by the most powerful cyclone of 2017 and the third longest-lived typhoon
on record. In Houston, USA, Hurricane Harvey claimed more than 75 lives,
unleashing a year’s worth of water in a 72-hour period. And a few days after
Harvey, another Hurricane wreaked havoc and utter devastation on the
Carribean Islands, Puerto Rico, the Dominical Republic, Haiti, Cuba, and Florida,
to name a few.

Despite the modernization and advancement in our world today, climate

change could greatly affect our health, our economy, our livelihoods, and even
our infrastructure. Based on research, because of the increase in the world’s
temperature, there are more chances of increasing the formation of smog,
especially in polluted regions. The inhalation of smog irritates the lungs and triggers
asthma attacks. Warmer water makes it easier for bacteria to grow and
contaminate our waters. Extreme heat means more heat waves. This list just goes
on. Agriculture is greatly affected as well. How, when and where we grow our
good is intimately connected with the climate’s patterns. With the great shift of
weather patterns, water supply has grown increasingly unpredictable. Produce
yield could ultimately be reduced by a staggering number. The damage to our
infrastructure is also at risk. Every year we are visited by extreme weather events
and flooding that destroys our buildings and houses. And in effect, our livelihoods
as well.1

The Inconvenient Truth highlighted the importance of the Paris Agreement

and the persuasion of governmental leaders all over the world to invest in
renewable energy to combat the growing challenge that climate change has
brought the world. The problem is not merely affecting one nation. It is a global
problem that needs the cooperation of all the nations to help mitigate the issue
and sustain our planet for future generations.

But as Al Gore emphasized, hope is not lost. With the growing awareness of
the entire globe of the situation, more and more countries are making a stand to
fight climate change through reducing their greenhouse gasses and transitioning
to cleaner energy. Multi-national companies as well, are starting to incorporate
the value of going green and having a better impact on the environment.2 And
as highlighted in Al Gore’s sequel to the Inconvenient Truth, 195 countries
adopted the Paris Agreement, the first-ever universal, legally binding global
climate deal, last December 2015. The society at large is also moving forward.
Now more than ever, the protection of the environment is a common concern to
all individuals.3

On a large scale, collective action has already been started by states and
nations to clean up their energy systems. However, each of us must take a part in
saving our planet. In the Philippines alone, our government lacks the political

1
“Climate change’s effects plunder the planet”, Environment Defense Fund,
https://www.edf.org/climate/climate-changes-effects-plunder-planet
2
Green Industry Analysis – Cost and Trends, Franchise Help, https://www.franchisehelp.com/industry-
reports/green-industry-report/
3
Gillis, Justin. Climate Change is Complex. We’ve Got Answers to your Questions. NY Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/climate/what-is-climate-
change.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fclimate
stand and initiative in emphasizing the move towards greener energy and
protecting our environment. The legislations at present, though beautifully
created and thoroughly thought of, lacks the proper implementation. Take for
example our Solid Waste Management Act. There are rules set forth for the
government units to comply, particularly the LGUs. However, segregation is still an
issue. Garbage disposals are still unorganized. Solid wasted are still being burned.
However, it is not entirely the government’s fault as well. The lack of awareness
and indifference to the cause of the citizens also contributes to the problem.
Despite the flood prone country we are in, still, people are throwing their trash
anywhere.

As a future member of the legal profession, we must take action to

emphasize the importance of action. Raising awareness with the public at large
is the first step to address this. Educate the community that there are laws present
and support the government with the proper implementation. To further respond
to the challenge, we can also push and lobby for a better and effective
regulations in relation to current environmental issues and promoting lower
carbon footage. Lawyers have a significant role in combatting the climate
change, especially corporate lawyers who can advise their clients to pursue
proper sustainability measures and aspects of corporate governance and risk
management.

However, lawyers cannot be effective without the support of other

industries that can help push for the cause. If we want to be truly effective, it is a
collective effort with all the sectors of society.