LET’S FACE IT! Climate Change is real, and it is here to stay unless we stop it. It is irreversible, and it is yet to show any signs of slowing down. Its effects have claimed lives by the thousands and damaged properties by the billions. It is bound to affect all of mankind regardless of where we live or what we do. It is real, and it is scarier than we think.
Climate Change: What do we know?
Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) says that climate change is one of the most fundamental challenges ever to confront humanity. According to Conservation International, the 2016 Carbon Dioxide concentration in our atmosphere was 400 parts per million- the highest ever recorded in millions of years. It was also the warmest year with surface temperature of 0.99 degrees Celsius- higher than mid- 20th century averages. Global temperature has risen, NASA claims. The oceans are warming, the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctic are shrinking, and the sea level has risen about 8 inches in the last century. If this trend continues, which part of the earth will remain?
At present, about 800 million people or 11% of the world’s population are living in areas vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods and extreme weather events and sea level rise. German Watch’s Global Climate Risk Index 2015 identified the Philippines as the country most affected by climate change impact in 2013. It was hit by five of the ten deadliest typhoons in the last ten years. The 2013 Super Typhoon “Yolanda”, the strongest ever recorded typhoon in the history of mankind, killed about 6,300 Filipinos and displaced over 4 million others in only a few hours.
Climate Change: What do we know?
Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) says that climate change is one of the most fundamental challenges ever to confront humanity. According to Conservation International, the 2016 Carbon Dioxide concentration in our atmosphere was 400 parts per million- the highest ever recorded in millions of years. It was also the warmest year with surface temperature of 0.99 degrees Celsius- higher than mid- 20th century averages. Global temperature has risen, NASA claims. The oceans are warming, the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctic are shrinking, and the sea level has risen about 8 inches in the last century. If this trend continues, which part of the earth will remain?
At present, about 800 million people or 11% of the world’s population are living in areas vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods and extreme weather events and sea level rise. German Watch’s Global Climate Risk Index 2015 identified the Philippines as the country most affected by climate change impact in 2013. It was hit by five of the ten deadliest typhoons in the last ten years. The 2013 Super Typhoon “Yolanda”, the strongest ever recorded typhoon in the history of mankind, killed about 6,300 Filipinos and displaced over 4 million others in only a few hours.
Poverty, Climate Change and SecurityAccording to the study “Poverty and Climate Change Reducing the Vulnerability of the Poor Through Adaptation”, poor communities are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It affects access to drinking water, health, and food security in many countries including those in Asia. Disasters drive people to hunger, health problems and poverty due to loss of or lack of jobs and livelihoods. Poverty and illness are often cited as among the root causes of insurgency. People tend to pin the blame on the government for failing to do something about their situation. This is the reason why communities heavily affected by insurgency are those in disaster-prone areas. Disasters give rise to civil unrest and armed conflict which the military will have to address. This drives the military’s need to invest on capabilities that both address internal security operations, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR). This is a major tradeoff for an organization that is perennially constrained in terms of resources. While it needs to develop strategic capabilities to defend the country against external threats, it is tied down with internal security problems, and must engage in disaster response as well.
Impact on, and Responses of the Philippine Army
As one of the active components of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Department of National Defense (DND) has long recognized the key role the military plays in times of disasters. Its military arm, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) along with its major services are tasked to establish communication linkages, provide security coverage, assist in the reconstruction of damaged structures, provide transportation facilities for the rapid movement of relief, supplies and personnel and for evacuation of disaster victims, and to organize reaction teams when disasters strike. HADR is now considered as one of DND’s security concerns or Mission Areas along with Territorial Defense, Security and Stability.
How capable is the AFP to respond to the impacts of climate change? How is it affected, and how does it prepare itself to mitigate the effects of climate change? How does it affect the way the organization performs its mandate? What measures are being undertaken to make it more responsive in addressing the impacts of this phenomenon to the Filipinos?
Dr. Wu Shang-su of the The Diplomat observed that Typhoon Haiyan exposed the AFP’s insufficient capacity in addressing or responding to HADR. He said that responding to disasters and calamities in the Philippines is likened to an armed conflict with a foreign country considering its geographical location and the number of typhoons experienced by the country each year.
Impact on, and Responses of the Philippine Army
As one of the active components of the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Department of National Defense (DND) has long recognized the key role the military plays in times of disasters. Its military arm, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) along with its major services are tasked to establish communication linkages, provide security coverage, assist in the reconstruction of damaged structures, provide transportation facilities for the rapid movement of relief, supplies and personnel and for evacuation of disaster victims, and to organize reaction teams when disasters strike. HADR is now considered as one of DND’s security concerns or Mission Areas along with Territorial Defense, Security and Stability.
How capable is the AFP to respond to the impacts of climate change? How is it affected, and how does it prepare itself to mitigate the effects of climate change? How does it affect the way the organization performs its mandate? What measures are being undertaken to make it more responsive in addressing the impacts of this phenomenon to the Filipinos?
Dr. Wu Shang-su of the The Diplomat observed that Typhoon Haiyan exposed the AFP’s insufficient capacity in addressing or responding to HADR. He said that responding to disasters and calamities in the Philippines is likened to an armed conflict with a foreign country considering its geographical location and the number of typhoons experienced by the country each year.
“…despite the AFP’s extensive experience in responding to frequent earthquakes and typhoons, its lack of capacity for airlift and sea transport limits its humanitarian capabilities in the archipelagic environment…[it] is unlikely to be able to deliver satisfactory quantities of materials and other aid to one or more affected areas…”
Andrew Jacobs of the New York Times echoed the same:
“…as American cargo planes and military helicopters zipped across the sky above this decimated city, ferrying badly needed supplies to typhoon survivors, Philippine soldiers were working with what little they had — relying on motorcycles and boats to ferry messages between the army’s provincial headquarters and stricken municipalities… some of them more than a hundred miles away.”
These kinds of observations drive the organization’s need to improve its HADR capabilities alongside efforts to modernize its capabilities for territorial defense. For its part, the Philippine Army is currently revisiting its fundamental Doctrines to incorporate HADR as one of its core competencies. The newly created Philippine Army Operating Concept identifies HADR as one of it Enabling Competencies- central and foundational abilities inherent in all Army operations. Training curriculums are continuously being developed, and trainings are being conducted to improve the organization’s capability to support the national and local government’s HADR efforts.
It is also redesigning its Organization to make it more responsive to the country’s HADR needs specifically by organizing and capacitating a National HADR unit- an engineer battalion dedicated solely for HADR Operations. Likewise, all major units across the country have dedicated active and reserve units to act as first responders in times of disasters. They are in constant communication and coordination with local government units for training and capability development.
Likewise, it has also invested in major Equipment such as mobility, and command and control, communications and computer systems to further improve its ability to respond to crisis. Facilities such as Mobile Command Centers are also being developed along with Battlefield Management Systems to aide commanders in their decision-making during crisis.
On top of these initiatives, it has been engaging with its traditional allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific Region to boost disaster response capabilities. Subject Matter Expert Exchanges are being regularly held to share valuable experiences and develop capabilities jointly.
Effects on Soldiers
While the military is heavily engaged in HADR, it is also prone to the devastating effects of climate change. Its primary resource- the soldiers, are among the most vulnerable sectors when disasters strike. They often find themselves assuming the role of first responders while awaiting the arrival of appropriate disaster response agencies. They are often the first ones to arrive in disaster-stricken areas and often become victims themselves. Through the years, many soldiers have lost their lives and equipment while responding to disaster victims. Lieutenant Colonel Carangan was thankful he survived his ordeal during Typhoon Yolanda but many others weren’t as lucky. There were also some who lost their families while they, the soldiers, were saving others somewhere.
Long- term Challenges
Unfortunately, climate change advocacy is still a relatively unpopular discourse in the AFP. Awareness is yet to be incorporated in most trainings and even in daily operations. Large scale combat operations such as that of Marawi utilized some of the biggest military armaments – land, sea and air assets, that contributed enormous quantities of carbon emission. Massive amounts of gunpowder residues were left in the air contributing to environmental pollution, not to mention the noise that it created.
“…as American cargo planes and military helicopters zipped across the sky above this decimated city, ferrying badly needed supplies to typhoon survivors, Philippine soldiers were working with what little they had — relying on motorcycles and boats to ferry messages between the army’s provincial headquarters and stricken municipalities… some of them more than a hundred miles away.”
These kinds of observations drive the organization’s need to improve its HADR capabilities alongside efforts to modernize its capabilities for territorial defense. For its part, the Philippine Army is currently revisiting its fundamental Doctrines to incorporate HADR as one of its core competencies. The newly created Philippine Army Operating Concept identifies HADR as one of it Enabling Competencies- central and foundational abilities inherent in all Army operations. Training curriculums are continuously being developed, and trainings are being conducted to improve the organization’s capability to support the national and local government’s HADR efforts.
It is also redesigning its Organization to make it more responsive to the country’s HADR needs specifically by organizing and capacitating a National HADR unit- an engineer battalion dedicated solely for HADR Operations. Likewise, all major units across the country have dedicated active and reserve units to act as first responders in times of disasters. They are in constant communication and coordination with local government units for training and capability development.
Likewise, it has also invested in major Equipment such as mobility, and command and control, communications and computer systems to further improve its ability to respond to crisis. Facilities such as Mobile Command Centers are also being developed along with Battlefield Management Systems to aide commanders in their decision-making during crisis.
On top of these initiatives, it has been engaging with its traditional allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific Region to boost disaster response capabilities. Subject Matter Expert Exchanges are being regularly held to share valuable experiences and develop capabilities jointly.
Effects on Soldiers
While the military is heavily engaged in HADR, it is also prone to the devastating effects of climate change. Its primary resource- the soldiers, are among the most vulnerable sectors when disasters strike. They often find themselves assuming the role of first responders while awaiting the arrival of appropriate disaster response agencies. They are often the first ones to arrive in disaster-stricken areas and often become victims themselves. Through the years, many soldiers have lost their lives and equipment while responding to disaster victims. Lieutenant Colonel Carangan was thankful he survived his ordeal during Typhoon Yolanda but many others weren’t as lucky. There were also some who lost their families while they, the soldiers, were saving others somewhere.
Long- term Challenges
Unfortunately, climate change advocacy is still a relatively unpopular discourse in the AFP. Awareness is yet to be incorporated in most trainings and even in daily operations. Large scale combat operations such as that of Marawi utilized some of the biggest military armaments – land, sea and air assets, that contributed enormous quantities of carbon emission. Massive amounts of gunpowder residues were left in the air contributing to environmental pollution, not to mention the noise that it created.
Internally, the organization’s budget is yet to incorporate significant resources dedicated to sustainability and climate change resistance. It has yet to develop sustainable and environment friendly bases and facilities. It has yet to establish and operate camps that consciously reduce energy, water, and paper consumption, or initiate the conduct of any research or studies to determine the short and long- term impacts of climate change to the organization.
Climate change is real. Hence, the AFP’s response should also be real. It is time we gather our acts togethers, and walk the talk before it is too late.
Climate change is real. Hence, the AFP’s response should also be real. It is time we gather our acts togethers, and walk the talk before it is too late.
