AS the various political parties draw up their final tickets and prepare to file the COCs of their slates a week from now, every political group vying for elective positions should also formulate their platform of government. On top of the current issues that are close to the heart of every presidentiable are the pandemic, economy, illegal drugs, and the alleged overpriced purchases of the health paraphernalia associated with the pandemic.
The two candidates who first declared their presidential runs, Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, have proclaimed corruption as their campaign battle cry, followed by the perennial issue of illegal drugs. However, outside of these current concerns, there are certainly other pressing agenda that should form part of our political rhetoric. Neglecting to include them may be fatal to one’s candidacy. One major concern that deserves to be included as part of our public conversation is climate change.
Climate change should be on the ballot in the forthcoming elections. The 2022 polls will be incomplete without tackling the issue of global warming. It should occupy a central focus in the political debate. Every presidential candidate should consider it a priority issue together with the economy, illegal drugs, and other matters that are of paramount importance to many people. A person seeking the highest office in our land will be irrelevant and unconnected if he ignores this critical subject. Just being conversant about the greenhouse effects will not be sufficient. He or she should fully appreciate the calamitous impact of extreme weather conditions. One does not have to be an expert but at least he or she should realize that it will be the dreadest pandemic, which shall hit our planet tomorrow. All over the world, thousands of people perish from flash floods, wildfires, heat strokes, and severe storms that become more frequent and more severe. Greenhouse gasses trapped in the atmosphere cause these disasters. Our political leaders should include climate change in their campaign planks. Unfortunately, traditional concerns like corruption, poverty and peace and order relegate to the background, if not bury, the issue of climate change when it is the worst tragedy that awaits mankind. The destructive fury of nature, which wrecks wide swathes of destruction across our planet, is a harbinger of the coming holocaust. As the leading voice of her generation in the current fight against climate change, Greta Thunberg has said that in confronting climate change, “(Y)ou must take action. You must do the impossible. Because giving up is never an option.”
What we want to hear from Senator Ping Lacson, Senator Bong Go, Yorme Isko Moreno, Vice President Leni Robredo, Mayor Sara Duterte, and other wannabes are their plans, if any, to deal with climate change. It’s important that they spell out their climate change solutions. It is not something that we can just wish away, or sweep under the rug. We cannot move on unless it is resolved. Our leaders cannot sidestep it and concentrate on low-lying issues. Our future survival hinges on our action now to slow down climate change. We can begin with a simple step. Let’s plant trees. Trees are vital resources that help shield us from natural disasters. They absorb rainwater and prevent soil erosion. They contain floods. They are habitats of birds and their foliage shelter wildlife. Their canopies shield us from heat and rain. They protect us from gale and wind. If you have trees around your home or office, they cool the temperature and therefore lower your energy cost. Government officials should prevent deforestation in the name of progress. Forests should not be cleared for housing, agriculture and grazing animals. Pocket forests and parks in urban areas where trees abound should be preserved. In fact, there should be more “Arroceros Park” in Manila and other urban areas. In some progressive cities of the world, trees are considered as infrastructures. They are the most enduring infrastructure since they live for centuries. Since trees are valuable resources, I agree that they should be included in measuring the wealth of a place. And every community should have an ordinance against cutting down trees even in the guise of development. To encourage planting of trees, I propose that instead of constructing a monument, we should plant and name a tree after a great person like a top sportsman or actors who have been awarded international recognition for their craft. It’s even better than getting a star in the coveted “Star Walk of Fame.”
There are other measures that can directly improve our resilience against extreme climate. Less reliance on fossil fuels is one of them. But that’s getting more costly and technical. Initially we can focus on doable measures like protecting our forests and strictly enforcing responsible mining. Once we have installed a pro-climate advocate in Malacanang, we can start to plan and work on big things to extend the life of our planet.
For so long, governments across the world have left the issue of global warming unattended. Highly industrialized countries, which are mainly responsible for raising the world’s temperature, have not done their part to significantly reduce their gas emission. The Paris Agreement of 2015 where the countries around the world had set targets to reduce gas emission was hailed as a bold step. But it was not enough. Many countries failed to meet their goal and the target set was far below what is needed to stem overheating. And now, another big international meeting on climate change will be held in Glasgow in less than six weeks from now. But this time mere talks will not be adequate. We need concrete action. Or we will be hounded forever by the wailing cry of the present and the unborn generations whose words will leave us sleepless: “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words.” Let’s not allow that tragedy to befall upon us. Next year, let’s vote for climate change!