(CNN Philippines) — The country is no stranger to the effects of dry, hot summers, intense storms during the wet season, and a range of environmental problems such as pollution and dwindling natural resources.
While there are those who deny that the extreme weather events are due to the effects of climate change, there is no ignoring the fact that we live in a changed world. And that humans contribute big time to our environmental problems.
Today, Earth Day, is a good time to think about how our choices, our daily consumption habits take a toll on the planet.
Since the 1970s, the world has been celebrating Earth Day every April 22 — the biggest environmental celebration in the world, involving more than 150 countries and over a billion people worldwide.
In the Philippines, organizations, local government units, businesses, churches, and schools that actively celebrate Earth Day form part of Earth Day Network Philippines.
The Philippine Footprint Report, which was published by the Global Footprint Network in 2012, said the country now faces stronger storms, warmer temperatures, and changes in rainfall patterns that can impact food security and health, as well as the economy.
The same report says the Philippines is taking on the challenge of spurring the nation forward without making a negative impact on the environment.
According to Gregg Yan, communications manager for the Worldwide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), the country faces a “declining capacity of our natural systems to provide the Filipino people with renewable resources,” and this is made worse because of a population that grows larger by the day.
The WWF Living Planet Report, an analysis on the health of the planet and the impact of human activity — shows that 50% more resources are being used than what the Earth can provide.
Unless this trend is reversed, perhaps even two planets will not be enough to supply what the world population needs by 2030.
WWF-Philippines President Joel Palma will be on Nightly News on Wednesday (April 22) to talk about the state of the environment, what Filipinos can do to secure a greener future, and why 2015 is a critical time for world leaders to take action on climate change.
Tune in to Nightly News, 9 p.m. on CNN Philippines.
CNN Philippines’ Mitzi Borromeo contributed to this report.
