Typhoon Ulysses created havoc as it breezed through our nation’s area of responsibility, unleashing destructive winds and floods that caught many people off-guard. But in truth, we had been forewarned many years ago of the worsening weather systems—with Milenyo, Ondoy and Yolanda. And it will not get better.
This is the result of climate change; and these natural disturbances will be more frequent and destructive. As much as we hate to admit it, this is our own doing—with our neglect of the environment, from the denudation of our forests, the wanton abuse of our watersheds, and the harmful carbon emissions from human activities. Of these harmful emissions, 30 percent comes from transport, more than that coming from other sources; affecting not just our environment, but also our state of health, with respiratory illness as the third cause of deaths in our country. We can only blame ourselves. But we can also be the ones to change the course.
To move in our desired direction, urgently implementing a national program on green mobility is necessary. The legal basis is there with the Clean Air Act, a law created some 20 years ago. But up to recently, we have seen only minor adherence to this law. Higher fuel standard compliance had been delayed and importation of second hand vehicles, especially heavy haul transport, continues; both mainly for our business sector considerations. There were promising initiatives moving into this administration beginning with the public transport modernization program and the will to implement a more encompassing roadworthiness testing for all vehicles. But unfortunately, this is not enough. While we need to do catch up with our Asian neighbors, most especially with China who has given itself a zero-carbon emission challenge on their transport in 30 years, we still have to pass the laws on the promotion of low carbon transport and the support for its needed ecosystem.
The current pandemic presents a unique opportunity for such a catch up. Covid-19 attacks the respiratory system. And carbon emissions weaken it. Carbon reduction therefore makes sense, not just for a cleaner environment but also for us to be better equipped for respiratory related pandemics. Now is a good time to fast track such legislation on green mobility. Moreover, the majority of the populace now appreciates the low-carbon mindset. Commuters, fearful of infection on public transport or because simply none were available, have pivoted to walking and use of bicycles. The government can respond to this with pedestrian and bike-friendly infrastructure that is cheap, fast and easy to construct. We can just look at other mega-cities such as New York and London, having converted existing roads (with present car usage less anyway) into exclusive lanes to accommodate human powered form of mobility.
There are many other public sector green mobility initiatives that can be undertaken—and definitely not the “dolomite” kind. But more than government, the key to real change is us, the private sector. Collectively and individually. Conglomerates need to actively pursue green mobility such as the bike-for-employee program of San Miguel Corp. And individually, the green mobility mindset needs to be internalized by everyone. And it doesn’t have to be just having electric vehicles or bicycles. It has to be a mobility mindset that inculcates “less and only necessary trips” are better. And if you do need to take that trip, then the hierarchy of mobility follows, heralding pedestrians on top and motorists at the bottom. Just think of the effect if everyone practices this simple mindset.
We should not kid ourselves. Global warming is here. Weather disturbances will be more frequent, violent and harder to predict. And this won’t be the last of a global pandemic. Mother nature is speaking and we as her children need to listen. We need to reduce drastically these harmful emissions in order for us to secure a life for future generations. Again—we can only blame ourselves for the mess we are in. And we can only be the ones to change its course.
Thomas “Tim” Orbos was formerly with the DOTr and the MMDA. He has completed his graduate studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University and is an alumnus of the MIT Sloan School of Management. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu
Image credits: Ace Morandante/Malacañang Presidential Photographers Division via AP