By now, “Climate Change” is no longer that remote a subject for scientists, advocates, and world leaders alone to figure out as when the United Nations first discussed the issue in 1972 which led to several milestone initiatives most significant of which is the forging of the Paris Agreement in 2015 that directed all countries to examine and address their national contributions to climate change. Real life – extreme weathers, massive floods, unpredictable seasons – across the globe in the recent years undoubtedly helped to splash ice on the face of the general population.

Facing the Challenge to Earth’s Sustainability

Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, Low-Carbon Lifestyle, and the latest buzz: Circular Economy. If you haven’t figured out yet, these are paradigm shifts called for in the recent decades due to the threatened state of the environment which impacts on the quality and quantity of Nature benefits to life, development, and the future. 

The Shift to Circular Economy

Necessity is the mother of invention, so said Greek philosopher Plato in “Republic”.  And it aptly applies to the world’s current race to mitigate the adverse extreme effects of climate change to prevent the earth’s system collapse by 2050. 


Green Innovations to the Rescue

“Unfortunate” is probably the kindest word to describe the periodic and severe flooding of the city of Marikina in eastern Metro Manila for a decade and a half now. 


The Unfortunate Flooding Of Marikina

The road landscape in the highways and major streets of Metro Manila, and other bustling urban areas of the heavily populated country, has been obviously changing in the past few years.  The traffic, considered one of the worst, and to some even the worst in Asia is the reason, hands down.  The challenge to resolve it has resulted in various experiments aiming to reduce vehicle volume, ease pressure on peak hours, avoid chaos among aggressive drivers, and improve on passage systems (designated lanes, U-turn, crossing) . 

Towards An Urban Bike Ecosystem

A quick tour of a kitchen, bathroom, the whole house and office even, will easily show the big presence of disposable, single-use plastics in everyday life.  Count market/grocery wet food bags, mineral water bottles, shampoo sachets, various plastic-packed products, deliveries from online sellers that come in layers of plastic, and more.  Yes, they are practical, convenient, light, and look harmless in their protective value, but try multiply them in your mind after throwing them away.

Plastic Pollution and why we should beat it 

Environment advocates do not always come in academic/scientist, crusader, and vigilante modes. Look around, there has risen a breed who buzzes with green ideas, chirps about green pastures, and surprisingly earns “green” bucks. They’re largely in the Millennial to Gen Z age range but not excluding seniors jumping into the wagon to make sense of retirement. What fires them? Mostly, environmental consciousness awakened and nurtured by the traditional pillars and advocates in the movement and jolted by events jarring the world.

Green Entrepreneurs In Bloom

Before former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte get nailed by the International Criminal Court for extra-judicial killings related to his war on drugs during his 2016-22 term and earlier as mayor of Davao City, let us be reminded that it is not the only serious damage he inflicted on the country and the Filipino people. Let me cite at least one other “victim”: the Philippine environment.  

Duterte’s “Crimes” Against the Environment

Every middle to lower-class Filipino who has grown to granny years must have a sharp memory of floods as a child in his/her country. Walking in the murky waters or being carried on the father’s shoulders from home to school and back, wading in a sudden river outside the house, catching small fishes near the gutters, making balls of muds and throwing them at playmates. It was fun then and fun to tell. Till by repetition, it became a sob story.

The Science and Politics of Floods

	There are 7 environmental principles that are taught in environmental study classes in the country as well as in events that gather like-minded advocates from various sectors mostly academe, government, non-government, business, and religious. The disturbing, even frightening state of our planet now inclusive of its components makes it however ideal that the rest of society get to be familiar with them, and at best, be grounded likewise on the same truths.  This can help shape a better way to live, one that is in harmony with Nature which is the heart of the environment. 

DAYBREAK

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