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This year, Climate Change became an inevitable topic. It had always a pressing issue, but as the Climate Change Conference in Paris drew nearer, it made international headlines. So before the year comes to a close, let us look back at some of the most memorable events related to Climate Change.

Workshop in Communicating Climate Change

From September 29 to October 1, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), together with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Vietnam Television (VTV and Climate Central, organized a workshop for Asian weather presenters in Hanoi, Vietnam. The participants from the media learned how they can be instruments in communicating Climate Change effectively to the public.

As one of the Panahon TV weather reporters, yours truly was able to attend the event together with other presenters from Thailand, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos.

During the workshop, the speakers shared their knowledge on the basics of Climate Change, mitigation and adaptation, and the best practices in communicating the science. Bernadette Woods Placky, the Chief Meteorologist of Climate Central, gave her thoughts on the role of the media in simplifying the concept of Climate Change.

Read my experiences on the workshop here. Panahon TV goes to Vietnam: Workshop for Weather Presenters (Highlights of Days 2 and 3)

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NANSEN Initiative Global Consultation

Every year, millions of people are being displaced every year due to natural disasters like tropical cyclones, flooding, landslides, drought and earthquakes. This figure, according to experts, may rise in the next decades as the adverse effects of Climate Change and population growth continue.

Last October 12 to 13 this year, the Nansen Initiative, a high-level intergovernmental meeting in Geneva discussed the resolutions for today’s disaster displacement, as well as preparatory actions for new challenges in the future. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) came up with 10 challenges that are climate and disaster displacement-related:

• recognizing the facts
• recognizing that people rarely flee for just one reason
• finding out who are the displaced
• preventing displacement
• compiling better data
• analyzing risks
• preventing people from becoming poorer
• ensuring formal protection
• ensuring protection in practice
• commiting and working together

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Climate Vulnerable Forum

On November 9 to 11, the most vulnerable countries to Climate Change impacts known as the V20, got together to talk about Climate Change. These low and middle-income, small and developing countries include Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Maldives, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, East Timor, Barbados, Kenya, Philippines, Tuvalu, Bhutan, Kiribati, Rwanda, Vanuatu, Costa Rica, Madagascar, Saint Lucia and Viet Nam.

Since these nations were the ones that usually experienced extreme weather events and the impacts of the changing climate, they needed to raise their voice to fight the climate issue. This forum served as a preparation for the COP21 or the 21st Conference of the Parties in Paris, France.

Greeneration

As part of the Climate Change Consciousness Week, the annual Greeneration event took place at the SMX Convention Center last November 25. Students from different schools in the Philippines gathered to affirm their responsibilities in climate action.

November 25 was also declared by the President as the National Day of Youth for Climate Change. Through the “#nowPH” campaign, the youth was able to show their determination in strengthening efforts to combat Climate Change. In fact, a human banner was formed in Rizal High School, participated by students and climate action advocates.

The National Youth Commission (NYC), together with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) of the Philippines, came up with 15 ways to lower emissions. These tips were recommended by students all over the country.
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Climate March

Just a few days before the Paris conference, a climate march was held on November 28. Representatives from different organizations such as Aksyon Klima Pilipinas, World Wide Fund (WWF), Greenpeace, Global Catholic Climate Movement and Philippine Movement for Climate Justice walked altogether to express their thoughts and raise their concerns about the lack of efforts in climate action.

They called for a fair agreement in the upcoming COP21 and the nations’ clearer commitments to renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels. This march also aimed to convince world leaders and emphasize the need to protect vulnerable countries like the Philippines, from the worsening threats of Climate Change.

Photo credit: Moon Danipog
Photo credit: Moon Danipog

COP21
After so many years, the 1st universal legally binding deal on climate action became successful. The 21st Conference of the Parties, dubbed as COP21, became the biggest climate conference of the year. It was held on November 30 to December 12 in Paris despite the alleged terrorist attacks prior to the event.

The COP21 showed how different countries committed themselves to keep the temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius—or if possible, 1.5 degrees Celsius. Though highly ambitious, this target will reduce the risks and impacts of Climate Change. Higher than the said target may aggravate the impacts of Climate Change, such as more disastrous weather events, severe droughts, record-breaking heat, melting of glaciers and rising sea levels.

Over 100 leaders all over the globe pledged to opt for renewable energy sources to lessen greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities. The conference also required the most developed nations to be responsible and provide financial support to the small and vulnerable countries regarding climate issues.

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Photo credit: http://adserver.bworldonline.com/
Photo credit: cop21.paris.org
Photo credit: cop21.paris.org

As we face the year ahead, Climate Change is sure to be more relevant than ever. With its growing threat and impacts, the time to act is now. So don’t just shrug off the issue; read about it, learn from it, and act on it. It’s the only way we can allow future generations to live in a world filled with the best of what nature has to offer.

Photo credit: www.climatechangecentral.com
Photo credit: www.climatechangecentral.com

C- limate Change affects everyone in millions of ways. From producing extreme weather events that destroy lives and properties, health, and the animals’ habitat, to effects of ocean acidification, coral bleaching, global security and economy, it is undoubtedly one of the most pressing global issues today.

The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21), which happened in Paris, France from November 30 to December 12, 2015, aimed to discuss Climate Change concerns and create an agreement for a stronger climate action plan.

COP21 targets to build unity among leaders to create solutions, particularly in reducing greenhouse gases (GHGs) from human activities—said to be a major contributor of Climate Change.

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Photo credit: http://adserver.bworldonline.com/

O – ver 100 world leaders committed to opt for renewable energy sources rather than the burning of fossil fuels. Renewables are projected to become the world’s leading source of energy in the coming years.

Since renewable energy is safer, cheaper and accessible to all, Greenpeace says that a100% renewable energy is achievable and cost-effective if placed under the right political decisions.

Meanwhile, the most developed countries still have the responsibility to continue providing financial support for its low or middle-income counterparts–the small and developing countries, which are at the frontline of Climate Change impacts. This will greatly help in the collective effort of Climate Change mitigation and adaptation.

Photo credit: WWF
Photo credit: WWF

P- ledges poured in as leaders expressed their willingness to help in combating the effects of the changing climate. Top emitters like China, United States, Europe, India, Russia, and Japan voluntarily committed in cutting down GHGs and pollution in the next two decades.

The Paris agreement said there would be transparency rules to encourage countries to practice what they have promised. All countries were required to submit reports of their emission and climate action efforts.

Photo credit: cop21.paris.org
Photo credit: cop21.paris.org

2 – º C or below of global temperature rise within the next few decades is the goal. Higher global temperatures may lead to more disastrous weather events, severe droughts, extreme heat, melting of ice, sea level rise, etc.

According to Climate Central, science researchers and policy makers in the 1990s described 2 degrees Celsius as the limit of warming that the earth could handle from the most disastrous outcome. In 2010, this 2 degrees Celsius was then formally recognized by the United Nations Climate Change group as the critical threshold.

“Since the late 1800s, the world has heated by about 1 degree Celsius,” Bernadette Woods Placky from Climate Central confirms. At this level, the planet has already been experiencing rising sea levels, changes in precipitation patterns, record-breaking heat and more wildfires.

The COP21 showed how different countries all over the world strongly committed to keep the temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius—or if possible, 1.5 degrees Celsius. Though highly ambitious, this target will reduce the risks and impacts of Climate Change.

In a Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) held in Manila prior to the Paris conference, Saleemul Huq, the Director of International Center for Climate Change and Development in the University of Bangladesh, says, “If we want all countries and all people to be safe, we need a one and a half degree goal. It’s the right goal to have.”

Photo credit: www.ambafrance-nz.org
Photo credit: www.ambafrance-nz.org

1- st universal, legally binding deal on climate action finally became a success. According to Climate Central, the Parisian event was already the 21st conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change–yet none of the meetings held during the previous years achieved its goal.

For instance, in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol attempted to enforce arbitrary and genetic pollution reductions from developed countries. However, Europe was not able to fulfill its commitment because of economic declination, lack of support from the U.S. and the withdrawal of Canada. Only few nations formally supported the protocol.

COP21 pioneered a new approach that relied on voluntary commitments of world leaders to reduce the effect of Climate Change. Some are against the new approach, but most experts and nations are optimistic to try something different.

Sources:
Climate Central
Greenpeace
The Telegraph
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
http://www.cop21paris.org/