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4 Biggest Environmental Issues in the Philippines in 2024

In the run-up to COP28, the urgency intensifies for the world to address the ongoing climate crisis. Although activities in the Global North herald the climate crisis for the most part, some nations in the Global South also contribute to a host of environmental issues like air and plastic pollution. Here are the top 4 environmental issues in the Philippines and the government’s approach to curtailing them. 

1. Air Pollution

Over the course of the year, air pollution has become particularly problematic in the Philippines. Going by World Health Organization’s (WHO) health and environment scorecard , the country records an annual mean of 24 micrograms per cubic metre (µ g/m³) for fine particulate matter, significantly surpassing the recommended maximum level of 5 µ g/m³. For the most part, air pollution in the Philippines stems from the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil. Considering that 53% of the population is without access to clean fuels and technology for cooking, this is bound to further exacerbate air quality in the long run. 

Air pollution in the Philippines is also caused by vehicular emissions, particularly in areas like Metro Manila. In 2022, other recorded surges in air pollution outside Metro Manila include the San Fernando City Station in Pampanga, Antipolo City Station, Biñan City Station, Puerto Princesa City Station, and the Davao City Station. 

According to William Cuñado , Environmental Management Bureau Director at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), lifting Covid-19 restrictions particularly deteriorated air quality in Metro Manila . For the most part, this was due to an acute surge in the number of vehicles on the street, which had fallen to 10% in the country’s National Capital Region during the lockdown period. 

Another factor was the prevalent use of firecrackers during new year celebrations. Given that the particulate matter ( PM 10 ) in firecrackers contains a mixture of carbon, sulfur, and other fine particles that pose a danger to public health, the DENR affirmed its commitment to controlling air pollution spikes of this nature. However, for this approach to be successful, it would require local government units to enforce the available Executive Order 28 on the controlled use of firecrackers. 

On another note, although the government introduced the Clean Air Act of 1999, groups like Greenpeace Philippines and the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) point out its outdated nature in the international community. For this reason, there have been pressing calls for the government to update its standards to meet the reality of air pollution in the country. 

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2. Plastic Pollution

Among the environmental issues in the Philippines is also plastic pollution , a particularly severe problem for the country. Evident by the World Bank’s use of the word ‘staggering’ to describe the situation in the Philippines, an insufficient waste management system, coupled with a high dependence on single-use plastics set the scene for the country’s annual generation of 2.7 million tons of plastic waste.   

Much like any rapidly developing country, the Philippines faces unsustainable plastic consumption due to an inefficient recycling system. Estimates show that the country loses around US$890 million to unrecycled plastic products. However, despite the considerable scale of plastic pollution in the Philippines, residents of the country and some companies have been at the forefront of recycling efforts so far. For instance, companies like Infinity Eight Trading and Marketing Corporation buy plastic waste from scrap dealers, turn them into pellets, and resell them as raw materials to remake food cartons and bottles. 

While critics trace the Philippines’ plastic pollution problem to the poor enforcement of laws, the government, nonetheless, introduced its Extended Producer Responsibility Act   (EPRA) in 2022. With this new law in play, companies are mandated to create EPR programs for plastic waste reduction, recovery, and diversion. Accordingly, by 2028, companies are expected to have achieved an 80% offset or recovery of their plastic product footprint. 

You might also like: 3 Lessons from Waste Management Solutions from Around the World

3. Marine Pollution

As the third-largest contributor to marine plastics, marine pollution accounts for one of the most pressing environmental issues in the Philippines. Considering that the country generates over 2 million tons of plastic waste every year, the World Bank reports that an estimated 20% of this waste ends up in the sea. Depicting the state of marine pollution in the Philippines, Theresa Lazaro, the country’s Foreign Affairs Undersecretary, cited reports that “there would be more plastics than fish by 2050 , while oceans would be overheated and acidified if people fail to act now”. For this reason, marine pollution also endangers biodiversity in the Philippines .

In recent years, the government has initiated various measures to curb marine pollution in the country. One of them is the Philippine Port Authority’s signed agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines to address marine pollution around ports. Through this agreement, the objective is to achieve a 50% reduction in plastic waste leakage in the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the Port of Batangas, and t he Manila North Port. 

Another response to marine pollution in the Philippines is the government’s implementation of a National Plan of Action on Marine Litter . Envisioned to achieve zero waste in Philippine waters by 2040, the plan seeks to set a wide range of policies into motion, ranging from public-private partnerships to an improvement of public awareness about marine pollution. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ), the approach’s rationale has to do with a recognition that most of the marine plastics polluting the sea are traceable to land-based sources, such as an improper waste disposal system. For this reason, an integrated effort that also curbs land-based plastic pollution while also educating the public on waste management practices is envisioned to be more effective. 

While the government envisions the aforementioned EPR law as a step in the right direction, there are many other factors that need to be considered. For instance, much like earlier efforts to curb plastic and air pollution in the Philippines, a significant level of commitment will be a crucial determinant of its effectiveness. 

4. Sea Level Rise

Floods have been recurrent in the Philippines in 2022 . On Christmas day alone, erratic rains trigger devastating flooding in Northern Mindanao and the Vasayas region that killed at least 51 people .  

This comes at the back of the country topping this year’s World Risk Index , which assesses sea level rise (a cause of coastal flooding) as one of its indicators. In line with the problem, Earth.Org’s projection shows that residents of the country’s capital city, Manila, will be displaced by 2100 if the current trend continues. At the moment, Manila is already subsiding at 20 millimetres per year , surpassing the mean sea level rise almost tenfold. 

You might also like: Flooding Will Hit Asia the Hardest- Report

So far, mitigation efforts have not been very successful. Nonetheless, in 2022, the DENR announced a plan to install infrastructures like floodgates, pumping stations, box culverts, and additional drainage connection systems. This was in addition to declogging operations carried out across drainage canals in Manila. Accordingly, DENR also plans to particularly focus on the city’s low-lying areas to abate coastal flooding. 

Flood mitigation may be crucial to the Philippines’ strategy on sea level rise, however, there are concerns that the government’s approach fails to consider its long-term threat. For the most part, this is due to solutions such as the decision to wall off the coast only partially. Although the several gaps in the seawall were necessary to provide fishing boats access to the bay, however, Vonne Villanueva, disaster risk reduction and management officer in the City of Navota, said the coastline may have to be closed to truly protect the city from rising sea levels. 

Featured image by Henry Donati/Department for International Development ( Flickr )

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Tackling environmental health challenges in the Philippines

Environmental risk factors such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries worldwide. In 2012, an estimated 12.6 million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment, that’s nearly 1 in 4 global deaths. The Philippines is not spared from this burden with environmental risk factors contributing to at least 22% of the reported disease cases and nearly 6% of reported deaths in 2006.

The Philippines experiences a “triple burden” of disease, this refers to the high incidences of key communicable diseases, the rising rates of non-communicable diseases while also being one of the highest disaster prone country in the world. These environmental risk factors are part and parcel of this triple burden of disease. To address this, the WHO Country Office in the Philippines is supporting the Philippine Department of Health’s environmental health programmes and most recently on its National Environmental Health Action Plan.

“The Philippines is setting an excellent example by developing a national environmental health action plan for the next six years. It not only shows its commitment to tackle these issues but also highlights a strategic direction that the Government is taking.” said Dr Gundo Weiler, WHO Country Representative in the Philippines. Dr Weiler also reiterated WHO’s continued commitment to support the plan that covers all areas such as water safety, sanitation safety, food safety, chemical safety, air quality management, health impact assessment, occupational health, and climate change.

The Philippines is also member of the Regional Forum on Environment and Health and will be hosting the Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum which will be held in Manila on 6-8 October 2016. Critical issues on environment and health that align with the sustainable development goals will be discussed and resolutions will be made to enhance country cooperation within the Region.

Environmental Challenges in the Philippines

• First Online: 21 April 2017

Cite this chapter

• Yves Boquet 2  

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

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The Republic of the Philippines is one of most exposed countries in the world to many “natural” hazards: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami, lahar flows, typhoons, flooding, landslides, and sea level rise. Earthquake risks make Metro Manila especially vulnerable, due to the high population density and the poor quality of buildings, partly linked to corruption. This chapter examines the current policies to reduce risk in the metropolis and the scales of vulnerability, both at the national, regional, community and individual levels, focusing on the resilience of people and society when confronted with danger. Their vulnerability is heightened with several forms of environmental degradation, such as deforestation, soil impoverishments, mining impacts, all favoring landslides and floods, as well as the loss in biodiversity, both in maritime and land areas. Despite the establishment of protected areas and natural parks, adaptation to climate change and mitigation of damage remains difficult and requires building up a better institutional resilience.

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Each event recorded in this database is killed at least ten people, affected at least 100 people or needed international aid.

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/statistics/?cid=135

Adaptations are actions that people do to adjust to stimuli, such as rainfall or flooding. Mitigation, in the context of climate change, is more about reducing greenhouse-gas emission (Mayuga 2015 ). Adaptations are more local in scale, mitigation more global in scope.

For example in 1645 (destruction of Manila’s cathedral), even as the epicenter was far the city, in Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija . The latest major tremor affecting Manila with casualties and destructions was the 1968 Casiguran earthquake, with an epicenter in Aurora province.

http://www.gov.ph/downloads/1977/02feb/19770219-PD-1096-FM.pdf

Twelve non-technical questions, accompanied by simple drawings, easy to answer by any resident: (1) Who built or designed my house? (2) How old is my house? (3) Has my house been damaged by past earthquakes or other disasters? (4) What is the shape of my house? (5) Has my house been extended or expanded? (6) Are the external walls of my house 6-inch (150 mm) thick? (7) Are steel bars of standard size and spacing used in walls? (8) Are there unsupported walls more than 3 m wide? (9) What is the gable wall of my house made of? (10) What is the foundation of my house? (11) What is the soil condition under my house? (12) What is the overall condition of my house?

http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/index.php/13-disaster-risk-reduction-and-management-laws/1457-the-valley-fault-system-atlas

http://www.nababaha.com/marikina_valley_fault.htm

http://tremors.instigators.io /

Such as the European Union, CARE Netherlands , GIZ (German Agency for International Cooperation), USAid or JICA.

“Adaptation” refers to policies helping protect citizens, the economy, and the environment from climate change impacts like storms, drought, flooding, landslides, and heat waves. Climate change “mitigation” refers to policies aiming at a reduction of carbon emissions from the transportation, garbage management, agriculture, energy, and industrial sectors.

The forum was originally composed of 20 developing countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh , Barbados, Bhutan, Costa Rica , Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Kiribati, Madagascar , Maldives, Nepal , Philippines, Rwanda, St Lucia, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Tuvalu, Vanuatu , Vietnam ), The inaugural meeting of this “V-20” took place in Lima, Peru , in October 2015, in conjunction with the 2015 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund, with the Philippines serving as chair of the meeting. The call to create the V20 originated from the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s Costa Rica Action Plan (2013–2015) in a major effort to strengthen economic and financial responses to climate change. It foresaw a high-level policy dialogue pertaining to action on climate change and the promotion of climate resilient and low emission development with full competence for addressing economic and financial issues beyond the remit of any one organization. The 20 original members were later joined by 23 more countries (Burkina Faso, Cambodia , Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Fiji , Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti , Honduras, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Morocco, Niger, Palau , Papua New Guinea , Senegal, South Sudan, Sri Lanka , Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen).

In Paris , President Aquino pledged a whopping 70% in reduction of carbon emissions by the Philippines, while approving the operation of at least 27 coal-fired power plants, no more than a month after the UN Climate conference, to insure the provision of electricity to the country. Upon his arrival at the Philippine presidency, Rodrigo Duterte announced he was not bound by the “crazy pledges” of his predecessor and would honor the 70% commitment, preferring to re-think the country’s priorities and the right balance between climate change protection and the need to provide economic development tools (energy) for the country.

Such as the May 2015 Climate Vulnerability Regional Forum in Manila attended by delegates from Afghanistan, Cambodia , Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan , Papua New Guinea , Tajikistan, Timor Leste and Vietnam .

As well as other environmental laws such as the Renewable Energy Act, the Solid Waste Management Act and the Environmental Awareness Education Act.

http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph / (Pagasa national weather service), http://weather.com.ph/weathertv/ , http://www.hurricanezone.net/ all offer detailed information about active typhoons

“Resilience Capacity Building for Cities and Municipalities to Reduce Disaster Risks from Climate Change and Natural Hazards”

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Resiliency is another, much less used, form of this word. Resiliency is used mostly in North America, as an alternate to resilience

Etymologically it is derived from “Bathala”, the ancient Supreme Being worshiped by Filipinos during the pre-Spanish Period. It is akin to the Arabic/Muslim expression “Inshallah” (at the will of God)

A word derived from kapwa , a Tagalog term widely used when addressing another with the intention of establishing a connection. Kapwa looks for what people have in common as human beings, not as rich or poor, young or old, man, woman or child. According to this thinking, people always remain just people (“ tao lang ”) despite titles, prestigious positions or wealth, or abject poverty. What really matters is their behavior and their ethics. The essence of humanity is recognizable in everyone, linking (including) people rather than separating (excluding) them from each other.

Pagpapanday ng Kalakasan (finding and cultivating strengths); Paghahanap ng Kalutasan at Kaagapay (seeking solutions and support); Pangangalaga sa Katawan (managing physical reactions); Pagsasaayos ng Kalooban at Isipan (managing thoughts and emotions); Pagsasagawa ng Kapakipakinabang na Gawain (engaging in regular and positive activities); Pag-usad sa Kinabukasan (moving forward).

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Boquet, Y. (2017). Environmental Challenges in the Philippines. In: The Philippine Archipelago. Springer Geography. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51926-5_22

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Philippines

Philippines: Country Climate and Development Report 2022

Attachments.

Stronger Climate Action Will Support Sustainable Recovery and Accelerate Poverty Reduction in the Philippines

MANILA, November 09, 2022 – Climate change is exacting a heavy toll on Filipinos’ lives, properties, and livelihoods, and left unaddressed, could hamper the country’s ambition of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2040. However, the Philippines has many of the tools and instruments required to reduce damages substantially, according to the World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for the Philippines, released today.

With 50 percent of its 111 million population living in urban areas, and many cities in coastal areas, the Philippines is vulnerable to sea level rise. Changes due to the variability and intensity of rainfall in the country and increased temperatures will affect food security and the safety of the population.

Multiple indices rank the Philippines as one of the countries most affected by extreme climate events. The country has experienced highly destructive typhoons almost annually for the past 10 years. Annual losses from typhoons have been estimated at 1.2 percent of GDP.

Climate action in the Philippines must address both extreme and slow-onset events. Adaptation and mitigation actions, some of which are already underway in the country, would reduce vulnerability and future losses if fully implemented.

“Climate impacts threaten to significantly lower the country’s GDP and the well-being of Filipinos by 2040. However, policy actions and investments – principally to protect valuable infrastructure from typhoons and to make agriculture more resilient through climate-smart measures -- could reduce these negative climate impacts by two-thirds,” said World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Manuela V. Ferro.

The private sector has a crucial role to play in accelerating the adoption of green technologies and ramping up climate finance by working with local financial institutions and regulators.

“ The investments needed to undertake these actions are substantial, but not out of reach, ” said IFC Acting Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, John Gandolfo . “ The business leaders and bankers who embrace climate as a business opportunity and offer these low-carbon technologies, goods and services will be the front runners of our future. ”

The report also undertakes an in-depth analysis of challenges and opportunities for climate-related actions in agriculture, water, energy, and transport. Among the recommendations are:

• Avoiding new construction in flood-prone areas.
• Improving water storage to reduce the risk of damaging floods and droughts. This will also increase water availability.
• Extending irrigation in rainfed areas and promoting climate-smart agriculture practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD).
• Making social protection programs adaptive and scalable to respond to climate shocks.
• Removing obstacles that private actors face in scaling investments in renewable energy.
• Ensuring new buildings are energy efficient and climate resilient.

Many climate actions will make the Philippines more resilient while also contributing to mitigating climate change.

“The Philippines would benefit from an energy transition towards more renewable energy. Accelerated decarbonization would reduce electricity costs by about 20 percent below current levels which is good for the country’s competitiveness and would also dramatically reduce air pollution,” said Ferro.

Even with vigorous adaptation efforts, climate change will affect many people. Some climate actions may also have adverse effects on particular groups, such as workers displaced by the move away from high-emission activities. The report recommends that the existing social protection system in the country be strengthened and scaled up to provide support to affected sectors and groups.

World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports : The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are new core diagnostic reports that integrate climate change and development considerations. They will help countries prioritize the most impactful actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation while delivering on broader development goals. CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support the low-carbon, resilient transition. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector, and development partners and enable engagements with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs will feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements, and operations to help attract funding and direct financing for high-impact climate action.

• 10 Things You Should Know About the World Bank Group’s First Batch of Country Climate and Development Reports
• CCDR Video link

PRESS RELEASE NO: 2023/025/EAP

In Washington: Kym Smithies [email protected]

In Manila: David Llorito [email protected]

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Stronger Climate Action Will Support Sustainable Recovery and Accelerate Poverty Reduction in the Philippines

MANILA, November 09, 2022 – Climate change is exacting a heavy toll on Filipinos’ lives, properties, and livelihoods, and left unaddressed, could hamper the country’s ambition of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2040. However, the Philippines has many of the tools and instruments required to reduce damages substantially, according to the World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for the Philippines, released today.

With 50 percent of its 111 million population living in urban areas, and many cities in coastal areas, the Philippines is vulnerable to sea level rise. Changes due to the variability and intensity of rainfall in the country and increased temperatures will affect food security and the safety of the population.

Multiple indices rank the Philippines as one of the countries most affected by extreme climate events. The country has experienced highly destructive typhoons almost annually for the past 10 years. Annual losses from typhoons have been estimated at 1.2 percent of GDP.

Climate action in the Philippines must address both extreme and slow-onset events. Adaptation and mitigation actions, some of which are already underway in the country, would reduce vulnerability and future losses if fully implemented.

“Climate impacts threaten to significantly lower the country’s GDP and the well-being of Filipinos by 2040. However, policy actions and investments – principally to protect valuable infrastructure from typhoons and to make agriculture more resilient through climate-smart measures -- could reduce these negative climate impacts by two-thirds,” said World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific, Manuela V. Ferro.

The private sector has a crucial role to play in accelerating the adoption of green technologies and ramping up climate finance by working with local financial institutions and regulators.

“ The investments needed to undertake these actions are substantial, but not out of reach, ” said IFC Acting Vice President for Asia and the Pacific, John Gandolfo . “ The business leaders and bankers who embrace climate as a business opportunity and offer these low-carbon technologies, goods and services will be the front runners of our future. ”

The report also undertakes an in-depth analysis of challenges and opportunities for climate-related actions in agriculture, water, energy, and transport. Among the recommendations are:

• Avoiding new construction in flood-prone areas.
• Improving water storage to reduce the risk of damaging floods and droughts. This will also increase water availability.
• Extending irrigation in rainfed areas and promoting climate-smart agriculture practices such as Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD).
• Making social protection programs adaptive and scalable to respond to climate shocks.
• Removing obstacles that private actors face in scaling investments in renewable energy.
•  Ensuring new buildings are energy efficient and climate resilient.

Many climate actions will make the Philippines more resilient while also contributing to mitigating climate change.

“The Philippines would benefit from an energy transition towards more renewable energy.  Accelerated decarbonization would reduce electricity costs by about 20 percent below current levels which is good for the country’s competitiveness and would also dramatically reduce air pollution,” said Ferro.

Even with vigorous adaptation efforts, climate change will affect many people. Some climate actions may also have adverse effects on particular groups, such as workers displaced by the move away from high-emission activities. The report recommends that the existing social protection system in the country be strengthened and scaled up to provide support to affected sectors and groups.

World Bank Group Country Climate and Development Reports : The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are new core diagnostic reports that integrate climate change and development considerations. They will help countries prioritize the most impactful actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation while delivering on broader development goals. CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support the low-carbon, resilient transition. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector, and development partners and enable engagements with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs will feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements, and operations to help attract funding and direct financing for high-impact climate action.

• 10 Things You Should Know About the World Bank Group’s First Batch of Country Climate and Development Reports
• CCDR Video link

Download the full report 

Watch the video

Key findings 

Watch the launch event

The World Bank in the Philippines

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