Seeking fresh water in times of climate change crisis

BY AMBASSADOR AMADO TOLENTINO ON APRIL 29, 2016

Water is a far more pressing problem than climate

change. Even if climate wouldnt change, we have
a water problem and this water problem is much
more urgent..
Peter Brabeck

AT the dawn of the 21st century, it was touted that 2001 marks the first year of the
century of water. The idea, however, was overtaken by dramatic changes in climate
throughout the world that many thought climate is the biggest problem and nothing
else matters. Thus, in the meantime, the looming global water shortage got far less
attention than global warming.

According to the United Nations, one reason water receives less attention is that
unlike global warming, there is no such thing as a global water crisis. Instead, there
are a series of regional predicaments in a world where the distribution of water is so
lopsided that 60 percent of it is found in just nine countries including Brazil, the US
and Canada.

As a chemical compound, nothing could be simpler than water. Two atoms of

hydrogen joined to one of oxygen equals water. And, there is no shortage of water on
planet Earth, which is covered by water but more than 97 percent is salty. The
shortage is of fresh water to grow crops, drinking and sanitation water for households
and to cool power plants.
In the past, military conflict over water rights was a grave national security issue
between some countries: Ethiopia and Egypt over the Nile; Botswana and Namibia
over the Okavango; Israel, Palestine and Jordan over the Jordan River, to mention a
few.

Water from rivers in those countries cross political boundaries with the concomitant
boundary issue. Be that as it may, the situation created a natural interdependence
between countries in sharing the water resource, drawing people to work together on
the water availability aspect even when countries were officially at war.

Perhaps, water wars were averted at that time due to the changing perception of the
concept of permanent sovereignty over natural resources in favor of functional
sovereignty or equitable utilization of transboundary shared resources. But in the
light of the recent changed political and security environment, could peaceful
negotiation over water issues still hold on for a much longer time?

Figure out the following: (i) Chinas damming the source of water of the Mekong River
has sparked serious concern among countries downstream namely Myanmar,
Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam; (ii) India, China and Pakistan see rising
tensions over shared water resources to boost production to keep up with their huge
and expanding populations; (iii) A growing sense of alarm in Central Asia over the
prospect that poor but glacier-heavy nations (Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan) may one day
restrict the flow of water to their parched but oil-rich neighbors (Uzbekistan,
Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan); (iv) Ultimate peace between Pakistan and India may
hinge as much on water as on nuclear weapons for the two countries must share the
glacier-dependent Indus.

The limited supply of freshwater must meet the needs of a human population that has
tripled in the last century and continues to grow at almost 80 million every year. Right
now, there is a torrent of water-related news concerning the dry spell brought about
by the drought effect of El Nio, the declaration of state of calamity in specified areas
due to lack of adequate water supply and a decline in agricultural production on
account of scarcity of water for agriculture.

Based on numerous studies, including those done by the Japan International

Cooperation Agency (JICA) and confirmed by a UNICEF-WHO report, 8.4 million
Filipinos have no access to clean drinking water. The major reason for freshwater
scarcity in the Philippines is pollution from industries, households, tourism sites and
agricultural areas. Industries use a wide range of chemicals, many of which are highly
toxic and find their way to natural water systems. Wastewater from households follow
the same route to natural water channels like run-offs of agricultural chemicals such
as fertilizers and pesticides.

A UNDP report further mentioned that the Metro Manila main underground aquifer
is so over pumped that groundwater levels have considerably dropped to critical levels.
This has induced saline water to encroach into coastal zones and threaten Marikina
Valley and places along the Laguna Lake region. Once again, water rationing plans are
on board in Metro manila.

Even the Rainwater Collection Facilities and Spring Water Protection Law (1989),
which mandates construction of water wells, rainwater collectors, development of
springs, rehabilitation of existing water wells in all barangays in the Philippines,
remains in the books, largely unimplemented.

The solution to water scarcity is largely in the hands of governments because it

requires policies such as better and effective regulation of groundwater, irrigation and
more intelligent use of wastewater. Among Asean countries, Thailand adopted a
policy to minimize use of water by not growing off-season rice as a response to the
gravity of the drought situation. Water has to be conserved for household
consumption. Farmers switched to drought-resistant crops such as beans or raising
livestock. Others resorted to raising poultry or farming shallow-water fish in baskets.
Many rice farmers have also joined government-sponsored employment schemes
such as working on irrigation canal dredging projects, which generate more than
40,000 jobs nationwide.

With the recent formal signing at the UN Headquarters in New York by 171 countries
of the Paris Agreement on reduction of greenhouse gas emission, water scarcity has
come of age as a forefront issue. As countries actively pursue major actions like a
shift to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, hydropower, etc.) to stop the
devastating impacts of climate change, it is now the time for action to set the pathway
that will lead to a far-reaching effort to meet the challenges posed by the most
precious but finite resource on Earth fresh water.

Ambassador Amado Tolentino, Jr. continues with his engagement as a member of the
Asociacion Internacional de Derecho de Aguas (Rome).
POPE FRANCIS VIS--VIS EARTH STEWARDS

The earth does not belong to man. Man belongs to the earth . This we know:
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of
life: he is merely a strand in it ..
Chief Seattle

AT long last, the Vatican released to the expectant world Pope Francis environment
encyclical Laudato Si. Encyclicals are considered the most authoritative document a
Pope can issue. This one is about the dire effects of environmental degradation
especially on the poor and urges the world to take action on moral grounds.

The encyclical could at best be described as the Popes lament and call to action for the
earths protection and sustainability. It links environmental degradation with
economic and social justice aiming to connect environment very tightly to the
Churchs social teaching to give preferential treatment to the poor.

No one has written an encyclical focused on the environment before. For analysts, this
could be traced to the Popes Jesuit formation which reinforces the idea that we are
stewards of Gods creation and that God is somehow present in all of creation.
Therefore, we have a duty to look after the earth responsibly. In that regard, Pope
Francis should be credited for having added the religious/moral dimension to an
otherwise purely scientific, political, and economic issue and concern.

Before the launch of Laudato Si, the Pope addressed a local group of grassroots
organizers in Rome saying that an economic system centered only on money would
.plunder nature to sustain frenetic levels of consumption. Climate change, the loss
of biodiversity, deforestation are already showing their devastating effectsfrom
which you, the humble, suffer the most.

Critics of the Popes message against the unbridled pursuit of profits by businessmen,
however, say that the free market, far from being the source of inequality is the great
engine that will pull the worlds poor out of misery.

While the Popes devotion to nature has a theological basis it also has an ethical
component based on who, in particular, is responsible for environmental problems.
But more than the issue of who is responsible is the dispute over the idea that
population control and contraception are the solutions to the planets limited
resources rather than curve the consumerist, wasteful behavior of the rich and the
privileged.

Be that as it may, the encyclical emphasizes that man is part of Gods creation and
therefore entitled to protection.

Pope Francis has won much admiration for his humility and reputation as a
truth-teller who speaks simply and plainly. He is the leader of a world-wide institution
with 1.2 billion members with no political interests to protect and no reelection
campaign to wage. Indeed, he is well positioned to win a debate on the issue of how to
steward the Earth.
But will the encyclical make an impact on Catholics worldwide who did not pay
attention to the environmental issues before?

No religion in the world could be identified as against protection of the environment

from the effects of climate change. Buddhism is known to respect and hold sacred
anything that has life trees, species of fauna, etc. In Islam, man is Al Khalifa (The
Steward). His role on earth is to act as Gods steward, and trustee of the bounties of
the earth. Even faith-based organizations like the Evangelicals and Baptist faiths
have been exceptional leaders working on climate change.

Hopefully, Pope Francis Laudato Si would lead to a united inter-faith response to

make a case for climate change and urge everyone to take action on moral grounds.
After all, we are the Earths Stewards.

BUILDING RESILIENCE: ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Adaptation is the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or

expected climatic conditions or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits
beneficial opportunities. It is a necessary strategy to complement any climate change
mitigation legislation in place.

Best practices abound on adaptation activities to cope with climate change risks.

In Bangladesh, floating vegetable gardens allow for seedlings to be grown when land
is flooded so that they are ready to plant out when the floodwater recedes. Fish are
reared in cages anchored in ponds created by monsoon rains when the river is too fast
flowing for fishing boats to go out. A variety of rice has been planted that matures
before the monsoon rains, and ponds are used for raising ducks and fish. Ducks
provide eggs for the market and are more resilient to floods than chickens.

In Thailand, bamboo poles are used in beating back waves that slowly engulf seaside
communities. Properly spaced bamboo poles dampen the force of waves and allow for
a more natural exchange between the marine and freshwater environments. Erecting
bamboo screens made of thousands of poles driven into the seabed has helped restore
several hundred meters of land now planted with mangrove saplings along the Gulf of
Thailand coast as well as on the island of Phuket.

Community resilience in Nepal through local knowledge, practices and innovations to

adapt to climate variability is worth notice too. To cope with water scarcity, water
conservation ponds are built during the monsoon and farmers use water harvesting
tanks to trap rainwater for use in the dry season.

Interesting are the Nepali improved crop storage systems. Farmers have been making
pits to store potatoes because pits help maintain cooler temperature allowing the
potatoes to last longer. Others protect their seeds from frost and cold temperature by
covering them with cloth and hanging them in safe places. Rice and other cereals are
stored in earthen vessels and kept on raised beds to protect them from flooding. They
are also raising the level of their houses and cattle sheds to keep them safe during the
monsoon floods.
In the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, there has been a transition in the types of root
crops people are planting. While in the past, they mainly planted yam and taro which
are harvested at different times of the year and can be stored for the rainy season,
people now are more focused on introduced root crops like sweet potato and cassava
which requires less labor as they grow in secondary forests and can be harvested after
only three months. It led to current interest at producing banana chips as banana
trees fare well under heavy rainfall and processing is cheap and simple. There are now
processing groups consisting of women in banana chips production.

Against the backdrop of horrifying earthquakes, tsunamis, super typhoons and storm
surge consequences and amidst unprecedented global attention and intense media
coverage on climate change (as in the recently concluded UN Climate Change
Conference in Warsaw (Poland), the 2009 Philippine Climate Change Law (RA 9729)
(An Act mainstreaming climate change into government policy formulations,
establishing the framework strategy and program on climate change, creating for the
purpose the Climate Change Commission, and for other purposes) is a most
significant piece of climate change mitigation legislation that needs
public information and awareness as well as effective peoples participation in its
implementation and enforcement. In the meantime, the man on the streets wants to
know about adaptation to climate change.

The climate change adaptation practices mentioned above respond to urgent and
immediate adaptation needs, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities and seek
to build capacities on adaptation.

He authored numerous publications, contributed to many international

environmental law meetings and spearheaded the formulation of the first
environmental laws of the Philippines.

--

Renewable energy offers an alternative to traditional fossil fuels (e.g., coal, natural gas, and
petroleum). The trend is to shift to renewable energy, also known as green energy or
clean energy.

Recently, rooftops of new commercial buildings in France are required by law to be covered
either with plants or solar photovoltaic panels. These green roofs are also popular in
Germany, Canada, and Australia.

Here in the Philippines, we can be proud of our very own Leandro Leviste from Yale
University, who at his young age, is the president of Solar Philippines. In November 2014, his
company activated SM North Edsas solar-powered rooftop -- the biggest in the world.
By definition, the term renewable energy resources or, simply, renewables, refers to
energy resources that do not have an upper limit on the total quantity to be used. These
include biomass, solar, wind, geothermal, ocean energy, and hydropower, among others,
which conform with internationally accepted standards.

In December 2008, the Philippines enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 9513, also known as the
Renewable Energy Act of 2008. The Implementing Rules and Regulations were issued in May
2009. The law affirmed the governments commitment to accelerate the exploration and
development of Philippine renewable energy resources.

RA 9513 declared the States policy to achieve energy security by reducing reliance on fossil
fuels and minimizing exposure to price fluctuations in oil markets. The government agencies
tasked to implement the law include the Department of Energy, the Energy Regulatory
Commission, and the National Renewable Energy Board.

RA 9513 also seeks to increase the utilization of renewable energy resources by developing
national and local capabilities in the use of renewable energy systems, and promoting their
efficient and effective application by offering fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.

These incentives include: (1) income tax holiday; (2) duty-free importation of renewable
machinery, equipment, and materials; (3) special realty tax rates; (4) net operating loss
carry-over; (5) corporate tax rate of 10%; (6) accelerated depreciation of plant, machinery,
and equipment; (7) 0% value-added tax rate; (8) tax exemption on carbon credits; and (9)
cash incentive for missionary electrification.

In the course of developing sources of renewable energy in the country, certain issues need
to be addressed by regulators, industry players, and other stakeholders.

These include: (1) high upfront cost and technologies; (2) non-competitiveness among
market players; (3) non-viable renewable energy markets; (4) inaccessible financial packages;
and (5) social acceptability.

Moreover, other issues which are inherent in renewable energy regulation (especially in
relation to incentives) consist of: (1) implementation of Feed-in Tariff rules; (2) setting of
Renewable Portfolio Standards; and (3) formulation of guidelines on other renewable energy
policy mechanisms, such as net metering, green energy option, etc.
Even though there are challenges in developing the countrys renewable energy sector, we
should not be discouraged; instead, we must continue to find ways to meet those challenges
with the hope that, ultimately, it will lead the nation towards the enjoyment of sustainable
green and clean energy.

In June 2011 during the launch of the National Renewable Energy Program, President Aquino
described the prospects of realizing the promise of renewable energy in the Philippines. He
best summed up why our country needs green and clean energy: Renewable energy will
fuel our future.

Let us tread in this direction.