““THE WATER IS ABOVE THE BRIDGE”:THE WATER IS ABOVE THE BRIDGE”: IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

STILL POSSIBLE?STILL POSSIBLE?

Antonio G.M. La Viña, JSDAntonio G.M. La Viña, JSD

Dean, Ateneo School of GovernmentDean, Ateneo School of Government

All of these are causes of environmental All of these are causes of environmental degradation, including climate change, but degradation, including climate change, but

can we do without them?can we do without them?

Can we adapt to the Can we adapt to the impacts impacts of of Climate ChangeClimate Change

Food Production

Infrastructure

Human healthIncreased Flooding

Sea Level Rise

The Other Crisis: Losing the The Other Crisis: Losing the Diversity of LifeDiversity of Life

Extractive industries – logging, miningExtractive industries – logging, mining Land conversionLand conversion

AgricultureAgriculture Human settlementsHuman settlements

Trade in speciesTrade in species Invasive speciesInvasive species Global warmingGlobal warming PollutionPollution

The Nitrogen CrisisThe Nitrogen Crisis

Is sustainable development still possible?Is sustainable development still possible?

Seven Elements: Effective Seven Elements: Effective Environmental GovernanceEnvironmental Governance

National leadership - political will, integration and National leadership - political will, integration and mainstreamingmainstreaming

Democratic local governments empowered and Democratic local governments empowered and accountable, representative, capableaccountable, representative, capable

Global cooperation essentialGlobal cooperation essential Access principles (Information, Participation, Justice)Access principles (Information, Participation, Justice) Consensus building based on Common InterestConsensus building based on Common Interest Bridging Business and Social Sectors Bridging Business and Social Sectors Scientific, technical, financial and human resourcesScientific, technical, financial and human resources

FROM BALI TO COPENHAGENFROM BALI TO COPENHAGEN

Comprehensive Process to end in COP 15 in Comprehensive Process to end in COP 15 in CopenhagenCopenhagen

Long term goal for emissions reductionsLong term goal for emissions reductions Mitigation commitments by all developed countries, Mitigation commitments by all developed countries,

including differentiated targetsincluding differentiated targets Appropriate mitigation actions by developi9ng Appropriate mitigation actions by developi9ng

countriescountries Addressing deforestationAddressing deforestation AdaptationAdaptation Technology TransferTechnology Transfer Financial resourcesFinancial resources

Big DebateBig Debate

Prevention, Mitigation or Adaptation?Prevention, Mitigation or Adaptation? Are they necessarily in conflict with each Are they necessarily in conflict with each

other?other?

My AnswerMy Answer

We have to do all three. But it is time to think We have to do all three. But it is time to think seriously about making adaptation our priority seriously about making adaptation our priority and first response.and first response.

Premises of this first answer:Premises of this first answer: Environmental degradation is upon us. Whatever Environmental degradation is upon us. Whatever

we do now, we will already experience the impacts we do now, we will already experience the impacts of what we have done to our world.of what we have done to our world.

The poor will suffer most from this degradation The poor will suffer most from this degradation and will benefit most if we think about adaptation.and will benefit most if we think about adaptation.

Adaptation Strategies for Climate ChangeAdaptation Strategies for Climate Change

At the national and local At the national and local levels:levels: Preparing for DisastersPreparing for Disasters Planning for Planning for

InfrastructureInfrastructure Putting into place safety Putting into place safety

netsnets Integrated coastal Integrated coastal

managementmanagement Intensify conservation of Intensify conservation of

biodiversitybiodiversity Population IssuesPopulation Issues

At the international At the international levels:levels: Cooperation on best Cooperation on best

practicespractices Financial and technical Financial and technical

assistanceassistance Carbon Dioxide Capture Carbon Dioxide Capture

and Storageand Storage

Manila Observatory in Mindoro: Example of Manila Observatory in Mindoro: Example of Low-cost Adaptation TechnologiesLow-cost Adaptation Technologies

Cup Type Anemometer

Gauge

Tipping Bucket Rain

Mitigation measures as part of adaptation.Mitigation measures as part of adaptation.

Renewable energyRenewable energy Energy efficiencyEnergy efficiency Sustainable transportSustainable transport Sustainable agricultureSustainable agriculture Best practices in solid waste managementBest practices in solid waste management

Adapting to Biodiversity LossAdapting to Biodiversity Loss

Protecting the last great places – national Protecting the last great places – national parks, protected areasparks, protected areas

Ex-situ Conservation Ex-situ Conservation Botanical gardensBotanical gardens National museumsNational museums Special depositories (The Artic Project)Special depositories (The Artic Project)

Breeding ProgramsBreeding Programs ConventionalConventional Genetic engineeringGenetic engineering

NO REGRETS MEASURESNO REGRETS MEASURES

IN SUM, GOOD ADAPTATION AND IN SUM, GOOD ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION MEASURES ARE NO-MITIGATION MEASURES ARE NO-REGRETS MEASURES. WE GAIN REGRETS MEASURES. WE GAIN EVRYTHING BY DOING THEM. THE EVRYTHING BY DOING THEM. THE BENEFITS USUALLY JUSTIFY THE BENEFITS USUALLY JUSTIFY THE COSTS.COSTS.

Conclusion: Conclusion: “Its sustainable development, stupid!”“Its sustainable development, stupid!”

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is development that meets the needs of the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”future generations to meet their own needs.”

The Brundtland Commission, 1987The Brundtland Commission, 1987

Haiku in KyotoHaiku in Kyoto

I do not want to be afraid of the rains I do not want to be afraid of the rains

and long for the memory of how they once and long for the memory of how they once made our mountains more beautiful to seemade our mountains more beautiful to see

and I do not want to weep for my children and I do not want to weep for my children

as I watch the sea.as I watch the sea.