Versuchen GOLD - Frei

Why the Philippines must act on climate change now

Manila Bulletin

|

March 28, 2025

Climate change is no longer a distant threat looming on the horizon — it is a present reality demanding immediate, unified action. In 2024 alone, we have witnessed an unprecedented surge in ocean temperatures, illustrating just how rapidly and dramatically our planet is changing. Global temperatures have soared past the critical 1.5°C threshold, a milestone scientists have long cautioned we should avoid crossing to prevent catastrophic climate impacts.

- NIGHT OWL ANNA MAE YU LAMENTILLO

Why the Philippines must act on climate change now

We have also seen carbon dioxide (CO2) levels spike to their highest in 800,000 years, underscoring the deep human imprint on our environment. These statistics are more than mere numbers; they are warnings, telling us that the decisions we make today will shape the world for future generations.

One stark indicator of the urgency we face is how fast sea levels are rising. Satellite measurements reveal that the rate of sea level rise has doubled since such monitoring began, placing coastal communities at greater risk of flooding and land loss. Coupled with the largest three-year loss of glacier mass ever recorded — between 2022 and 2024— these trends paint an unsettling picture of what the future might hold if we continue along our current trajectory.

Ice sheets, glaciers, and polar regions act like the Earth’s cooling system, reflecting sunlight back into space. As ice mass diminishes, more heat is absorbed by our planet, further fueling the warming cycle. This vicious cycle intensifies other climate-related challenges, from droughts and extreme storms to surging ocean temperatures that threaten marine life.

WEITERE GESCHICHTEN VON Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

'Liberating fashion for many'

Saed El-Achkar, H&M's president for East Asia and Greater China, on the brand's mission to make fashion accessible, inclusive, and purposeful for everyone

time to read

3 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Curls, unleashed

6 game-changing products bringing bounce, shine, and freedom back to curly hair

time to read

2 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Agri output sustains growth in Q3

The Philippines’ agriculture and fisheries output grew by 2.8 percent in the third quarter, as stronger crop and poultry production kept the country on track to achieve higher growth this year compared to last year’s contraction.

time to read

2 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Ms. Czech Republic wins Miss Earth 2025 crown, uses Filipino in final Q&A

Natalie Puskinova of the Czech Republic was crowned Miss Earth 2025 and drew cheers from the crowd as she spoke partly in Filipino during the final question-and-answer round held at Okada Manila on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

time to read

1 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Pope Leo calls for 'deep reflection' about treatment of detained migrants in the United States

Pope Leo XIV called for “deep reflection” about the treatment of migrants held in detention, saying that “many people who have lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what is going on right now.”

time to read

1 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Why indigenous consultation in urban planning must be real

Walk any city block and you’re moving across layered stories—rivers channeled into pipes, fields paved over, names translated or erased.

time to read

3 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Hesitant borrowers cool banks' lending

Lending by big banks, or universal and commercial banks (U/KBs), expanded even more slowly in September, as loans grew only by 10.5 percent from 11.2 percent in August.

time to read

2 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Save our planet; go clean energy all the way

The world is fast reaching a point of no return.

time to read

2 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

BIR files ₱1.6-B tax evasion complaint vs 3 ex-DPWH engineers in Bulacan

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed on Thursday, Nov. 6, a P1.6 billion tax evasion complaint for alleged income tax deficiencies from 2020 to 2024 against three former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its Bulacan First Engineering District.

time to read

6 mins

November 7, 2025

Manila Bulletin

Manila Bulletin

Marcos declares national state of calamity due to 'Tino'

President Marcos has approved the declaration of a national state of calamity following the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Tino, which struck large parts of the Visayas and Mimaropa and left a high number of casualties.

time to read

5 mins

November 7, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size