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Thirsty or Flooded: Changing Hydrological Systems
How does the assigned UNFCCC theme relate to your country?
This UNFCCC theme relates to Philippines’ countless times of typhoons we’ve had. Philippines is an archipelago that lies in South-East Asia, and because of its location it is vulnerable to climate change. Philippines had strong typhoons that damaged the country a great deal and has been actually going through a lot of unpredictable weather events these past few months experiencing both drought and heavy rain leading to flooding.
How does it relate to your country pairing?
The theme also relates to the country’s pairing, Australia, in a way of how climate change can affect both countries similarly in the future. In 2013, Australia had a report stating that the country is becoming hotter and that it’ll also experience more extreme heat. Now in 2015, study shows that climate change will hit Australia harder than the rest of the world. Some of the effects of climate change in the country would be the rise of sea level, extreme rainfalls, and droughts to name a few.
What is the current state of this UNFCCC theme?
The current state of this UNFCCC theme here in Philippines would be ‘Flooded’.
In mid-October, there came a typhoon, but before the typhoon came we experienced drought, which led us to worry the insufficient amount of water in the dams. Now, after the typhoon came, which is recognized as the worst storm to hit Philippines in 2015, the dam is filled with water, that actually 3 dams had to open its gates to release water from it.
What are your country's future plans and the implications?
Philippines future plans is to build adaptive capacities of women and men in their communities, increase the resilience of vulnerable sectors, and expand mitigation opportunities towards rights-based sustainable development. The country also plans to improve the infrastructures such as dams, retarding basins, road dikes, and rehabilitation of pumping stations.
What strategies to combat climate change do you think are best/worst for your country?
Implementation of mitigation programs sounds like a fine strategy for the country. Undertaking selective mitigation programs where emissions are on the rise will help the country strengthen growth via a low-carbon pathway while accomplishing local benefits through improved environmental quality.
