Manila, Philippines: The Philippines will join disgruntled nations and the poorest of the poor in demanding that Western powers abide by a global pact to develop green economies during the United Nations (UN) Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from June 20-22. The Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), chaired by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), is leading the Philippine delegation. Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering said that the delegation will reiterate government’s commitment towards sustainable development. “We will push for a green and climate smart development that ensures the enhanced adaptive capacity of communities, resilience of natural ecosystems, and sustainability of built environment to climate change,” Sering said. The CCC, chaired by President Benigno S. Aquino III, has been trying to balance the needs of industry and economic development, which puts pressure on the Earth’s finite resources. “Vast tracts of forest land are being cleared to give way to agriculture, housing, and infrastructure development.

The bowels of Earth are being mined for its precious metals and fuel while seas are fished to supplement our need for nourishment,” she said. “As a result, the balance between economic development and nature has been altered with dire consequences. We now experience scarcity in food and raw materials to meet the demands of industry and an ever-growing population. Aside from that, our wasteful practices and wanton disregard for the environment have accelerated global warming, triggering climate change and aggravating further the scarcity in resources we are experiencing,” she argued.

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Tempo(www.tempo.com.ph)
By Marvyn N. Benaning
June 12, 2012