10 Years after Yolanda: The Search for Answers

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For the most part, there's a kind of thinking that says First World solutions won't work in developing countries. The issue is partly about resources but in reality, it's about attitude and the lack of foresight. Development theorists often point to the Western lifestyle as worthy to blame for climate change. You must know, however, that some foreign scholars are now beginning to look into traditional wisdom in terms of understanding the concept of sustainability.

One of such work is the paper written by Dr. John Weckert of Charles Sturt University in Australia and Dr. Rogelio Bayod of Cor Jesu College in Digos City. They argue in their published work in the prestigious Nanoethics Journal that indigenous wisdom can enrich the present understanding of Technology and its advances, including the relevant approaches that can help people address lingering issues such as climate change.

Ten years after Yolanda, most countries have not accomplished that much in terms of fulfilling their commitment in reducing their carbon emissions. The Kyoto Protocol was suggestive as to how the hegemonic relation between states determines the end results of any agreement. The Paris Accord remains to be a challenge that requires firm action on the part of government leaders and citizens alike. 

Climate change is an existential issue that needs the cooperation of everyone. While the world was in solidarity in putting an end to the Covid-19 Pandemic, the same is not operative in ending the threats from changing weather patterns that cause harsh and unbearable conditions to the global poor who do not have the resources to address much less mitigate the impact of global warming. 

- Christopher Ryan Maboloc, PhD 


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