Environmental Issues Environmental Issues and Disaster Mitigation and Disaster Mitigation 3131stst Annual PAASE Meeting & Symposium Annual PAASE Meeting & Symposium

(31 APAMS)(31 APAMS)

University of the PhilippinesUniversity of the PhilippinesNational Science ComplexNational Science Complex

20112011

Core members:Core members:Joey Comiso (NASA, chair)Joey Comiso (NASA, chair)

Francis de los Reyes (NCSU, scribe)Francis de los Reyes (NCSU, scribe)Felino Lansigan (UPLB)Felino Lansigan (UPLB)William Padolina (IRRI)William Padolina (IRRI)

Rodel Lasco (UPLB)Rodel Lasco (UPLB)Mahar Lagmay (UPD)Mahar Lagmay (UPD)

Michelle Almendrala (Mapua)Michelle Almendrala (Mapua)Fernando Siringan (UPD)Fernando Siringan (UPD)

What are the challenges and issues? Areas of Discussion

Satellite data and risk monitoring - Comiso Indicators of climate change - Lansigan Agriculture - Padolina Forestry -Lasco Water and Sanitation - de los Reyes/Almendrala Subsidence and Sea Level Rise - Bato/Siringan

Challenges Climate change - increasing SST and land temp., higher

frequency of extreme events- CC impacts on food production, biodiversity, forests, water, cities

Need for more data Educational gaps Weak regulatory and enforcement framework

- Science-based? Long-term? Good for the majority, esp. the marginalized poor?

Defragmentation of water sector Overpumping of groundwater Tragedy of the Commons

SOLUTIONS

Data! Increase access to satellite data

Maximize potential for Phil.- problem is time resolution

Power of collaborations Increase density of weather gauging stations Increase access to weather data (PAGASA)

Need more analysis of rainfall data Increase collection of/access to hydromet data Expand localized early warning system Obtain data on biodiversity and forest cover

Education Biology and systems biology - need to include in engineering Environmental engineering (water/wastewater, solid waste, hazardous waste, air, groundwater, systems)

Policy Are our policies science-based (ex. forest cover, water treatment) Are they looking at the long-term? Are they looking at the greatest good for the greatest number? Comprehensive Land Use Planning Law Participation of private sector - e.g., rice situation

SOLUTIONS

Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) measures Knowledge-based crop forecasting system Update design standards (e.g., flooding) Incorporate climate risk assessment in comprehensive

land use plan Monitoring and lead time for early warning systems Food production technologies

Alternative crops, integrated cropping New rice varieties - salt, drought, heavy metal

tolerance, biotic factors Deploying new varieties - address market issues Nitrogen biochemistry

Ecosystems-based adaptation Natural infrastructure, indigenous people, connectivity

Water and sanitation Address defragmentation of water sector Look at alternative and new technologies - compare

small and large-scale, potential of decentralized systems

Look at recommendations of sanitation roadmap Address groundwater pumping in Manila

Acknowledgements, Other Members of FGD5

E. Patulot M. Amaro, Jr. E. Gangor D. Apodaca D. Palmes G. Aquino M. Roa N. Alibuyog E. Bacani A. Amante B. Pacheco M. G. Bato R. Lloren B. M. Solivio G. Perez M. Chan