Enabling Approaches to Sustainability SESSION 3 Ruth Sarra

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

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

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

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

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

The State of Environment Philippine Water Resources Water Supply = 146. 0 Bcu. m Water 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

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, 76 M 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 30% or 9 Million Hectares High-Potential Only 1. 4% being exploited 70 % Low-Medium Potential Mineral Land Distribution (As % of Total Philippine Land Area) Land Area: 30 million Hectares

… Global catastrophes are happening And will continue to happen…

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

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – DO WE KNOW THEM ALL? 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

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

• 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 Where shall we put it? WASTE Waste Disposal Industry Is it safe? Waste Regulation Industry GARBAGE DISPOSAL MENTALITY

• Balance of Nature Knows Best Ang 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 v. Cyclic Seasons Night and Day Tides Biogeochemical: C-O, N, P, S, Cycles Hydrologic Cycle

v. Linear Erosion Corrosion of metals Extinction of Species

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

• Interdependence Everything is Connected to Everything Else Ang Lahat ay Magkaugnay

CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE • COMPLEX INTERACTIONS EXIST BETWEEN THE LIVING AND NONLIVING COMPONENTS OF THE ECOSYSTEM.

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

Thank you