Enabling Approaches

to Sustainability

SESSION 3

Ruth Sarra Guzman

Professor, Rizal Technological University

and Board Chair, PATLEPAM

Manila, Philippines

Outline

� Introduction

� The Ecosystem Perspective -

� Basic Ecological Principles

� Environmental Principles

� Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

� Sustainable Development Paradigm

� Social, Economic and Ecological Perspectives

SD and Climate Change

Sustainable development

policies

Climate change

Sustainable

development

Climate changepolicies

� Alternative development pathways� Sectoral environment/ economic policies� Institutional/managerial changes� Innovation/ technological change

� Avoided climate change damage� Ancillary benefits/costs� Spillovers/trade effects� Innovation/technological change

Two-way linkages between climate change and sustain able development. Source: Swart et.al (2003)

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

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

The State of EnvironmentPuerto Princesa Subterranean River National ParkPuerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

Mayon VolcanoMayon Volcano

Candidates for the

NEW 7 WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Chocolate HillsChocolate Hills Tubbataha ReefTubbataha Reef

The State of Environment

Verde Island Passage Marine CorridorVerde Island Passage Marine Corridor

Center of the center of marine shorefish diversity in the world

Center of the center of marine shorefish diversity in the world

(Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion)(Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion)

The State of EnvironmentPhilippine Water ResourcesPhilippine Water ResourcesPhilippine Water ResourcesPhilippine Water ResourcesWater Supply = 146.0 Bcu.mWater Consumption = 40.9 Bcu.m

Consumption Ratio = 28.0%

The State of Environment

• One of the hottest ‘hot spots’ in habitat destruction

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

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)

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

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

The State of Environment

• TSP levels above the standards by as much as 200% causing adverse health impacts

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

The State of Environment

VAST MINERAL RESOURCES

Mineral Land Distribution(As % of Total Philippine Land Area )

30% or 9 Million Hectares

High-Potential

Low-Medium Potential

70%

Only 1.4% being exploited

Land Area: 30 million Hectares

Global catastrophes are happeningAnd will continue to happen……

THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION•PRESENTLY

– Alarming rate of environmentaldegradation

– Adverse environmental issues andproblems

– Bring havoc and poses a veryserious problem

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?

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 Ac t, 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

• Finiteness of Resources–Ours is a Finite Earth –Ang Kalikasan ay may

Hangganan

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.

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

THE LINEAR SOCIETY

Resources

Production

Consumption

WASTE

Waste Disposal Industry

Waste Regulation Industry

Where shall we put it?

Is it safe?

GARBAGE DISPOSAL MENTALITY

• Balance of NatureNature Knows BestAng Kalikasan ang Mas Nakakaalam

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

• Change–Everything Changes–Ang Lahat ay Nagbabago

CHANGES

�CyclicSeasonsNight and DayTidesBiogeochemical: C-O, N, P, S, CyclesHydrologic Cycle

�Linear

Erosion

Corrosion of metals

Extinction of Species

Random/Catastrophic

• Volcanic eruptions

• Earthquakes

• Meteor showers

• Landslides, MudslidesFloods

• Interdependence Everything is Connected to Everything ElseAng Lahat ay Magkaugnay

CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE

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

CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE

• The structure and function of ecological systems are interrelated with socio-economic

systems.

SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEMECOLOGICAL

SYSTEM

Thank you