Climate change resources
Because we only have one planet and it is all of our responsibility to protect it, let us share some insights about climate change.
Life on earth comes from a complex balance of interactions and chemical processes.
What are greenhouse gas?
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and in consequence raise the surface temperature of the Earth. What distinguishes them from other gases is that they absorb the wavelengths radiation that the planet emits, resulting in a greenhouse effect. The Earth is warmed by sunlight, causing its surface to radiate heat, which is then mostly absorbed by greenhouse gases. Without greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the average temperature of the surface would be about −18 °C rather than the present average of 15 °C.
Natural flow of carbon happens between the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and sediments. They have been fairly balanced over the past million years. ​Human activities since the beginning of the industrial revolution have drastically increased their emissions of GHGs especially Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄), Nitrous oxide (N ₂O) and Fluorinated gases. This has led to logical consequences on the climate.
Carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚)
enters the atmosphere through burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), solid waste, trees and other biological materials, and also as a result of certain chemical reactions (e.g., cement production). Carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere (or "sequestered") when it is absorbed by plants as part of the biological carbon cycle. Human activities since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (around 1750) have increased carbon dioxide emissions by over 50%. They are causing about three-quarters of global warming. CO2 is a slow acting gas. The carbon cycle takes thousands of years to fully absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Between 65-80% of the CO2 released into the air dissolves into the ocean over 20-200 years period. The rest will slowly be removed over 300-1,000 years or more.
Methane (CHâ‚„)
is emitted during the production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock and other agricultural practices, land use, and by the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. Methane is a short-lived (average 12 years in the atmosphere) but powerful greenhouse gas. It is 80% more potent at warming than carbon dioxide.
Nitrous oxide (N â‚‚O)
is emitted during agricultural, land use, and industrial activities; combustion of fossil fuels and solid waste; as well as during treatment of wastewater.
Fluorinated gases
Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse gases that are emitted from a variety of household, commercial, and industrial applications and processes. Fluorinated gases (especially hydrofluorocarbons) are sometimes used as substitutes for stratospheric ozone-depleting substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons). Fluorinated gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities than other greenhouse gases, but they are potent greenhouse gases. With global warming potentials (GWPs) that typically range from thousands to tens of thousands, they are sometimes referred to as high-GWP gases because, for a given amount of mass, they trap substantially more heat than CO2.
Carbon dioxide levels are now higher than they have been for 3 million years due to increased human based emissions ("Climate Change Indicators: Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases". EPA. 2016.).
Methane levels are 150% higher since industrial revolution 1750.
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If current emission rates continue, global warming will surpass 2.0°C sometime between 2040 and 2070. This is a level with the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns to be dangerous ("Analysis: When might the world exceed 1.5C and 2C of global warming?". 2020).
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Carbon dioxide emissions are causing approximately 3/4 of the earth's current global warming while methane is causing majority of the rest. Both gas have different properties and while the carbon cycle takes thousands of years to fully absorb COâ‚‚ from the atmosphere, methane is a much more fast-paced but extremely potent gas. Each need to be taken into account and considerably reduced in emissions to avoid worst case scenario.
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Plants are natural carbon sink. They absorb carbon dioxide and use it (along with water and sunlight) as a product for photosynthesis, and then create energy and release oxygen.
Alarming deforestation, forest degradation and marine plants degradation / removal since industrial time has been exacerbating the problem.
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The world has lost one-third of its forests since the ice age. Half of this loss occurred in the last century alone.
Between 2015 and 2020, the rate of deforestation was estimated at 10 million hectares per year, down from 16 million hectares per year in the 1990s. The area of primary forest worldwide has decreased by over 80 million hectares since 1990 (FAO, 2020, link)
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Excessive human-based emission of greenhouse gases are driving the climate change crisis.
This has been leading to
Ocean warming
& ECOSYSTEMS EXTINCTION
The ocean absorbs heat. As the planet is warming, it does too. This has consequence at species & ecosystem levels, such as the melting of glaciers in the polar circle, or the mass bleaching of corals in the tropics, threatening the millions of species depending on them.
Sea water level
RISING
As the ocean warms, glaciers are melting adding water into the pool. This means that the oceans are extending, threatening many coastal communities, cities and even countries to disappear by the end of the century. In the latest years, the Philippines has observed sea level rise about three times faster that of the global average.
Ocean acidity
CHANGING
The ocean absorbs a high quantity of COâ‚‚ due to our high emissions, so much that it is starting to change its chemistry and PH level. As the ocean becomes more acidic, this becomes problematic for many species living in it, especially those building calcium carbonate systems such as corals or gastropods.
Extreme weathers
OF ALL KINDS
The warming of the atmosphere is causing a general imbalance of the climate. Storms & typhoons are predicted to become stronger and more frequent, along with extreme weathers of all kinds, from droughts to floods, hurricane to sand storms, depending on the area. Ability to farm, or even to live in certain regions in the planet might be compromised.
What is your responsibility in it?
Find out by taking the quiz below
It is important to understand that climate change responsibility should mostly be accounted to political choices, industrial development and at corporate level. However, societies are made with an addition of individual people. People vote for political leaders. Businesses rely on consumer's purchases. As services are offered, it is our responsibility as consumers to understand what we support and should take it into consideration before buying. Each and everyone of us, play a part into bearing the responsibility of the climate crisis, and are therefore KEY ACTORS into solving it.
01
Cut down on your use of fossil fuels
The burning of fossil fuel is the most important source of COâ‚‚ emissions, the most prominent greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.
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This is the most common source of energy that is used in our societies all over the world in order to provide heat (or AC), as well as provide electricity to homes and businesses and to run cars, planes and factories.
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In the Philippines, the total energy supply is 2 560 869 TJ wether locally sourced or imported and on average 22 483 TJ per capita ( data from IEA, source). This energy is primarily sourced via fossil fuels for approximately 70% of it (31% of coal, 4% Gas and 32% oil based solutions from 2022 data).
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Of course, not all of it comes from residential consumption (actually only 19% of the energy), yet fossil fuels are still a big part of our every day life.
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WHAT ARE THEY?
Fossil fuels are made from decomposing plants and animals. These fuels are found in Earth’s crust and contain carbon and hydrogen, which can be burned for energy. Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels.
TRANSPORT
Perhaps our most common daily life encounter with fossil fuels and source of COâ‚‚ emissions is through our transports. Emissions depends on the type of car / motorbike you are using and can easily reach 100g per km per passenger.
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In the Philippines, driving 7km per day might emit on average 0.5 to 1 metric ton COâ‚‚e.
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If you can, walking, bicycle or commuting is always a good option. (Note: buses are great, but as much as we love Jeepney, they are high emitters, we'd recommend newer more carbon efficient commute.) Can't do? How about sharing your ride with friends and colleagues?
HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES
In your house, everything plugged and requiring electricity is linked to your carbon footprint. This, unless, you are self sufficient on solar or other renewable energies. Some appliances are more energy demanding than others and therefore will add up on your carbon footprint and electric bill. Fridge, laundry machine, SmartTV are some of the high consuming ones.
Even most costly, will be your consumption of AC, and of shower heater. Share your room and limit your shower time when you use them!​
PLANES
Did you save up to go for a holiday in a nearby island or far away country? By plane ? This might come as a shock.
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Despite a growing accessibility of air travel for consumers, no one really talks about the hidden cost for the planet. Air travel is extremely wasteful in terms of carbon emissions and if you are trying to remain under the international recommended targets of 2,5 metric tons of COâ‚‚e per year, a few plane tickets will quickly explode your carbon budget.
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A few example of emissions per passenger on common destinations:​
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Manila - Puerto Princesa : 0.2TCOâ‚‚ e
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Manila - Japan: 1,2 TCOâ‚‚ e
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Manila - Los Angeles: 2TCOâ‚‚ e
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Use it with wisdom!
It is difficult (if not almost impossible) to eradicate completely fossil fuels from our lives, and in truth no one asks you to do it. However, it is important to be mindful of the environmental cost of our every day usage and try our best to refrain from excess and wasteful use. By all reducing and avoiding waste, we can all have a much more tolerable environmental impact than we currently do.
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Aside from the restriction you see fit, below are easy steps you can take right now, to reduce your CF without changing much your lifestyle.
5 easy example to reduce your footprint by simply avoiding energy waste:
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Turn off lights, fan/AC or other appliances when leaving the room. Wasted electricity is an important part of global COâ‚‚ emissions.
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Unplug appliances when not in use. They still use energy otherwise. Low amounts, but this adds up.
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Refrain from using transport for easily walkable distance. Let's use our legs, it's good for the health!
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Minimize your daily waste (food and other), their transport & disposal require transport and costly infrastructures.
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Refrain from replacing your smartphone or latest technology when it is still working well. Their manufacturing require precious minerals and have an important cost on the environment.
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What else can you do?
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If you haven't already, switching to energy efficient light bulbs is an easy improvement.
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Fan of hot shower? A solar water heater can be great for you.
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Installing solar panels to share the load of your daily energy consumption can help. Beware that many have environmentally costly battery, that should be well maintained and of good quality to be worth the switch. ​​
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Vote to support political leaders mindful to limit environmental impact on their jurisdiction from GHG emissions, to ending deforestation, protecting natural spaces and acting to mitigate and prepare for climate change unavoidable impacts.
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02
Your diet matters
An important portion of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions comes from our food. From growing it, to harvesting, preparing it, packaging it, delivering it to buying it, consuming it and finally disposing of the remaining waste, our alimentation plays an important part into our carbon footprint. When you think about it, it makes sense. Yet by looking more into the numbers, you might actually be surprised to realize how much your individual carbon footprint (and environmental impact) might vary from a choice of food over the next. ​
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ANIMAL AGRICULTURE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR AT LEAST 11-19% OF ALL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
From growing livestocks, to growing crops to feed the animals, and all the logistics going into slaughtering, packaging, delivering, etc. animal agriculture is an important emitter of GHG emissions of both carbon dioxide and methane.
The fascinating work of H. Nabipour Afrouzi, in 2023 (A comprehensive review on carbon footprint of regular diet and ways to improving lowered emissions) went into deep analysis of the food production process to decrypt its carbon emission. As part of his study, he compared the differences in emissions of the most common diet styles. One of the important point of his work is to understand that carbon emissions will differ per country, based on consumer's food habits and local preferences, portion sizes, but also, sourcing options and logistics required for the meal to be grown, prepared, and arrive in your dinner plat. He therefore compared different diet types in US, UK, Spain, Italia, India and China.
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Some of his findings highlighted shocking differences in emissions depending on our food choices. And especially between meat eaters and vegetarian or vegan diet.
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"In America, a heavy meat eater's diet contributes 3.3 tons of CO2e to the atmosphere each year. An average diet, based on a typical American diet, contributes 2.5 tons of CO2e each year per person. Americans who consume other kinds of meat but avoid beef account for 1.9 tons of CO2e, which is 1.4-ton CO2e less in comparison to a meat lover's diet. The diet of an average vegetarian in America contributes 1.7 tons of CO2e yearly to the earth's surface. A vegan's CF accounts for 1.5 tons of CO2e, making it the lowest CF contributor in the list of diets in the United States."
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By reproducing the comparison in different countries and culture, he found that the GHG emissions varied in amount (based on meal composition - type of meat, staples; portion sizes - as well as sourcing logistics) but it remained clear that vegan and vegetarian diet had much less GHG impact compared to meat eaters. Even in China, where the average GHG emission is much lower than in the US or Europe, "the animal-based products emitted 1.8 times more CF emissions than plant-based production, particularly beef, chicken, wheat and mutton, as they contributed the most GHG emission."
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One solution promoted in the study to considerably reduce carbon footprint at individual level is to switch to a plant-based diet or at least remove (or reduce) beef, lamb or mutton from the diet. ​​​​​​
THE HIDDEN IMPACT OF OUR DIET / WHEN WE EAT... WE SUPPORT...
WHEN WE EAT...
MEAT & DAIRIES
It is important to understand that aside from the high carbon dioxide and methane emission from animal agriculture, the environmental impact goes further. ​​
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Some 80% of global deforestation is a result of agricultural production, which is also the leading cause of habitat destruction.
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Deforestation is a non-sense in our environmental context since it leads to the worsening of the climate crisis.
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Industrial animal agriculture is also extremely polluting and a source of mass animal cruelty and abuse.
FISH
In terms of GHG emissions, eating a pescatarian diet is almost comparable to a vegetarian diet and not much higher than a vegan diet.
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However, if you are conscious of your environmental impact, do take into account that eating seafood puts a high pressure on our overfished ocean.
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Indeed, more than 85% of the world’s fisheries are considered overexploited, depleted, or are actively trying to recover from depletion. Unsustainable fishing practices (such as bottom trawling, long line fishing, etc.), the absence of quota, and the lack of regulations in the international seas, has led us to an ocean with depleted stocks. With decreasing fish stocks, illegal practices are rising and it is extremely difficult to verify "sustainability" of a fish catch.
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Farmed seafood is unfortunately extremely polluting and fed on wild catches.
VEGETARIAN VS VEGAN?
Vegetarian diet consists of eliminating meat and fish from the diet. Vegetarians are commonly doing so for either of the 3 reasons: animal rights, environmental responsibility or personal food preferences.
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Vegan diet is more restrictive and eliminates all animal-products from the diet. This includes dairies (milk, cheese, butter, etc.), along with many other and often requires close inspection of the ingredient list.
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Indeed, did you know that white sugar isn't vegan? Sugar derived from sugarcane is processed with animal bones. Gummy bears? Filled with gelatin (made from the collagen in animal skin, bones and connecting tissues). Many common food products aren't vegan due to similar issues.
The difficulties of keeping a vegan diet is a reminder of the widespread use of animal produce and pressure put on the natural world.
It is difficult (if not almost impossible) to have a alimentation that is perfectly environmentally friendly as so many considerations take a part in it, from carbon emissions to packaging type, waste, local availability, etc. However, without having to go into draining extremes, it is easy and important to be mindful about the environmental cost of our daily food consumption.
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Here's 3 example to reduce your environmental footprint
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Avoid food waste. Waste removal requires transport and logistics, this produces COâ‚‚ .
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If you have any, segregate properly your biodegradable food waste. In landfills, they are an important source of methane emissions. This can easily be avoided by setting up a compost area at home, or feeding it to chickens / goats.
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If you are a meat or fish eater, consider animal-produce as a treat rather than something granted. Do not have it every meal and select carefully when and what you will be consuming to limit your environmental impact (for example: produce issued from local small scale fishing or small scale farming are always better than industrial ones as long as they are following legal regulations).
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Avoid consuming indirect unnecessary meat and fish consumption (ex. when you are not directly looking for buying meat or fish but purchasing something else (ex: crisps or other snacks) that contain animal product as a side ingredient (yet, do not add flavor and are low quality))
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Wand to take it a step further ?
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Go vegan or support plant-based alternatives ! Try the 1 month vegan challenge if you dare! Aside from benefitting the environment, you'd be surprised by the health benefits and how well it can make you feel. (be careful, plant-based alternatives aren't always healthier or environmentally friendly with the rise of processed low quality vegan alternatives - heavily packaged. Follow simplicity, go to your local market, vegetables can be delicious.)
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Vote to support political leaders mindful to limit environmental impact on their jurisdiction and understand the importance of food choices in the climate crisis.
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33 572 METRIC TONS OF CO2 WERE EMITTED IN 2021 IN THE WORLD
ABOUT 580 METRIC TONS OF METHANE ARE EMITTED PER YEAR IN THE WORLD
ON AVERAGE 4.21 TON OF CO2 EMISSIONS PER CAPITA PER YEAR IN THE WORLD
ON AVERAGE 1.1 TON OF CO2 EMISSIONS PER CAPITA PER YEAR IN THE PHILIPPINES
On average and compared to regional and global average, Philippines is a low contributor to global carbon emissions, as a country and per capita (per person). It is still below the recommended international guidelines of 2.2 metric tons of COâ‚‚ set up as a recommended maximum individual carbon footprint to avoid the aggravating the impacts of climate change by excessive emissions. However, it is important to note that an increasing portion of the population is now developing different lifestyle habits following global urban trends of singapore, japan, europe or US.
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With more than 100 million people, the Philippines is the 13th-most important nation in the world in terms of population. As the population keep increasing (it is projected to reach 138.67 Million people by 2055 (PSA 2020 report)) current changing lifestyle habits that do not carry much weight at country level now, might be alarming if they were to become the norm.
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Despite the low responsibility of the global change crisis of the Philippines as a country and on average per habitant, it is however of critical importance for the country to mitigate climate change impacts and help avoiding a worst case scenario. This unjust reality is unavoidable for the Philippines who's location makes it one of the prime target in the world for climate change impacts.
The observed temperature in the Philippines has increased by 0.68°C over the past 65 years (1951-2015); warming at an average rate of 0.1°C per decade. The average temperature in all areas in the Philippines is expected to continue to rise by as much as 0.9°C to 1.9°C (under RCP 4.5) and 1.2°C to 2.3°C (under RCP8.5) by mid-21st century. (IPCC - source).
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Storms, typhoons are already a common issue that the Philippines is facing. Climate change is however aggravating this natural predisposition and stronger typhoons are projected to increase.
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Ocean warming is an alarming threat causing stress and bleaching of corals and threatening the biodiversity of the Philippines. As coral reefs are important nursery grounds and habitats for countless species, loosing such ecosystems would have devastating consequences for local fishermen in the Philippines.
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Sea level rising is also threatening many areas in the Philippines and causing floods annually. The sea level has risen by 5.7- 7.0 millimeters per year over certain parts of the Philippines from 1993-2015, which is approximately double the highest global average rate of 2.8-3.6 millimeters per year. Projections reveal that the sea level in the country will be continue to be slightly larger than the global average. The increase is expected to be by approximately 20cm by the end of the 21st century (under RCP8.5 scenario - IPCC - source).
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If there were only 5 things to remember from all this?
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Climate change is a reality and some of its impacts can already be seen in the Philippines.
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We each have a responsibility in how the future will unfold and a power of action.
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Being conscious of our individual carbon footprint & environmental impact is essential and there are many steps that can be taken by each to individually lessen our common impact. The more we are acting, the higher our impact.
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Voting and supporting political leaders, businesses and influential people that act to support the environment and mitigate the climate crisis in the Philippines (/world) is also one important individual power and responsibility we share. Boycotting others is equally important.
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Protecting our natural and wild spaces (from dense forests to healthy ocean) is essential to restore the balance of the climate and mitigate climate change impacts in the Philippines and the world.
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