LECTURE AND CONSERVATIONS SERIES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: Climate Change Adaptation The School of Habitat and Environment launched

the Lecture and Conversations Series on Sustainable Development on June 28, 2012. For the first lecture of the series, the School had invited the Dean of the Ateneo School of Government, Dr. Tony La Vina, to talk about climate change and adaptation. Climate Change and the Future Dr. La Vinas lecture centered on the issues of climate change affecting the world. Change in climate like the desertification in Africa and the massive flooding in Metro Manila and other neighboring Asian cities are among the calamities we have recently experienced. Changes in temperature, amount of rainfall, number and intensity of typhoons hitting the country each year, and sea level are among the alarming manifestations of climate change in our country. Climate change is a local and global issue. It also encompasses different dimensions of the society. Other impacts of climate change are in health, water and marine resources, forest and biodiversity, agriculture and food security and public welfare. According to IPCC, a group of scientists all over the world who work on the science of climate change, Another aspect of these projected changes is that wet extremes are projected to become more severe in many areas where mean precipitation is expected to increase, and dry extremes are projected to become more severe in areas where mean precipitation is projected to decrease. Dr. La Vina also discussed in his lecture the reason why we experience these climate changes greenhouse gas emissions mainly come from burning fossil fuels for different sectors. He pointed out that although plants emit natural green house gasses, they also absorb pollution. If we cut trees and pave forests, there will be nothing to absorb those pollutions. Think local, act global!

How should we then respond to climate change? Dr. La Vina pointed out that the Philippines can continue to play an advocate and facilitator role in international negotiations. We must also prioritize adaptation and pursue mitigation as a no-regrets option. The National Climate Change Action Plan calls for an integrated adaptationmitigation approach on seven strategic priorities: food security, water sufficiency, ecosystem and environmental stability, human security, climate-smart industries and services, sustainable energy, and knowledge and capacity development. Strengthening the capacity of LGU and applying good governance principles in decisions and actions are also important strategies for climate change adaptation. ______________ Watch out for more of the School of Habitat and Environments Lecture and Conversations Series on Sustainable Development!