Enabling Approaches to Sustainability

1. Enabling Approaches to Sustainability SESSION 3 Ruth Sarra Guzman Professor, Rizal Technological University and Board Chair, PATLEPAM Manila, Philippines

2. Outline • Introduction • The Ecosystem Perspective - • Basic Ecological Principles • Environmental Principles • Ensuring Environmental Sustainability • Sustainable Development Paradigm • Social, Economic and Ecological Perspectives

3. SD and Climate Change • Alternative development pathways • Sectoral environment/ economic policies • Institutional/managerial changes • Innovation/ technological change Sustainable development policies Climate change Climate change policies • Avoided climate change damage • Ancillary benefits/costs • Spillovers/trade effects • Innovation/technological change Sustainable development Two-way linkages between climate change and sustainable development. Source: Swart et.al (2003)

5. The State of Environment • One of 17 mega-diverse countries in the world • Containing two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity • 70-80% of the world’s endangered species

6. The State of Environment • 4th in the World in bird endemism • 5th in the World in mammal endemism • 5th in the World in number of plant species • 8th in the World in reptile endemism

7. Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park Mayon Volcano Chocolate Hills Tubbataha Reef Candidates for the NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD The State of Environment

8. Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor (Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion) Center of the center of marine shorefish diversity in the world The State of Environment

9. Philippine Water Resources Water Supply = 146.0 Bcu.m Water Consumption = 40.9 Bcu.m Consumption Ratio = 28.0% The State of Environment

10. The State of Environment • One of the hottest ‘hot spots’ in habitat destruction

11. The State of Environment • Massive loss of forest cover which is now down to only about 18% of our total land area • Only about 800,000 hectares of virgin forest left

12. The State of Environment • Threatened and endangered species (increasing in about 9.7% annually) • Only 5% of our coral reefs remain in excellent condition • 30-50% of our seagrass beds were lost in the last 50 years • Only 112,400 hectares of mangroves left (decline from 450,000 ha in 1918)

13. The State of Environment • The degradation of coastal and marine ecosystem has affected fish production • Catch per municipal fisherman significantly went down from about 1500 kg per year in 1987 to about 1100 kg per year in 1996 and declining still because of overfishing

14. The State of Environment • Groundwater levels going down by 5-10 meters for the last several decades that led to saline intrusion and ground subsidence • Sixteen major rivers, five in Metro Manila, are biologically-dead during summer months due to pollution • 48% of water pollution is caused by household waste, compounded by the lack of an adequate sewerage system

15. The State of Environment • TSP levels above the standards by as much as 200% causingadverse health impacts

16. The State of Environment • In 2000, 76M Filipinos generated over 10 million tons of municipal solid wastes. • In 2007, waste generated was 12.45 million tons. • On 2012, waste projection is pegged at 14 million tons

17. Mineral Land Distribution (As % of Total Philippine Land Area) The State of Environment VAST MINERAL RESOURCES Only 1.4% being exploited 30% or 9 Million Hectares High-Potential 70% Low-Medium Potential Land Area: 30 million Hectares

18. Global catastrophes are happening … And will continue to happen…

19. THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • PRESENTLY • Alarming rate of environmental degradation • Adverse environmental issues and problems • Bring havoc and poses a very serious problem

20. Climate change Ozone depletion Deforestation and desertification Water scarcity (freshwater) Losses of soil Reduction of biodiversity Land, atmosphere and ocean pollution Scarcity of natural resources and energy Food security Depletion of biological resources Overpopulation Residue production Accelerating trends of urbanization Development of megacities GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – DO WE KNOW THEM ALL?

21. PHILOSOPHY “For humankind to SURVIVE and IMPROVE its QUALITY OF LIFE, it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for Everyone to become Aware of and Understand Humanity’s Relation to the Environment. Develop Values and Attitudes of Conservation and Social Justice, and Act, Alone or in Groups, in such Ways as to Correct or Prevent Environmental Problems” . TO SAVE MANKIND, EVERYONE SHOULD BE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

22. Finiteness of Resources • Ours is a Finite Earth • Ang Kalikasan ay may Hangganan

23. The natural resources needed to maintain the lifestyle of one person in the United States are equal to what is required by 200 to 300 Asians. Imagine what would happen if the same North American lifestyle were to be extended to people everywhere.

24. Materials Cycle/Pollution • Everything Must Go Somewhere • Ang Lahat ay may Patutunguhan

25. Resources Production Consumption WASTE Waste Disposal Industry Waste Regulation Industry THE LINEAR SOCIETY Where shall we put it? Is it safe? GARBAGE DISPOSAL MENTALITY

26. Balance of Nature Nature Knows Best Ang Kalikasan ang Mas Nakakaalam

27. Diversity and Stability All Forms of Life are Important Ang Lahat ng Uri ng may Buhay ay Mahalaga

28. Change • Everything Changes • Ang Lahat ay Nagbabago

29. CHANGES • Cyclic Seasons Night and Day Tides Biogeochemical: C-O, N, P, S, Cycles Hydrologic Cycle

30. Linear Erosion Corrosion of metals Extinction of Species

31. Random/Catastrophic • Volcanic eruptions • Earthquakes • Meteor showers • Landslides, Mudslides Floods

32. Interdependence Everything is Connected to Everything Else Ang Lahat ay Magkaugnay

33. CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE • COMPLEX INTERACTIONS EXIST BETWEEN THE LIVING AND NON-LIVING COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

34. CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE • The structure and function of ecological systems are interrelated with socio-economic systems. SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEM ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM

35. Thank you