Says Philippine Senator Heherson Alvarez in his keynote address during the Coping with Climate-related Risks Forum sponsored by the Ateneo School of Government (http://www.ibop-asia.net)¹ and IDRC last March 4-5 in Antipolo City, Rizal.

"It is important for us that there should be an early and deep cut global warming gases. Each Filipino burns 1 ½ ton fossil gases per annum, Americans, 50 tons per annum. With multiple government initiatives, we want this reduced. Be more sensitive to carbon gas cut or eliminate it altogether.

We don’t have accurate science to be able to say the cut shall be done at 2% per annum. The government of Australia will cut 5 to 15% in the first 15 years; which should be enough to cut the storms’ rage. The situation in Cagayan de Oro is very bad... We pool our talents together and bring the sufferings that we have had and quantify so we can put this to the nations of the world and respond to destructive changes of climate.

International policy design is to cut deep enough to be able to make a significant contribution to blocking the storms. The ambassador of Switzerland says there is no money for adaptation... How do we produce the money? There is a proposal from the group of Scandinavian countries -- put 2 dollars per ton levy, or 0.5 cents per liter levy, collect globally, and share among nations in confronting climate change -- the 40% will be used to address adaptation concerns, like reduction of emission through reforestation of deforested lands. We hope that when we get to Copenhagen, a package of agreement will be considered through this funding proposal."

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¹ iBoP (Science and Technology Innovations for the Base of the Pyramid in Southeast Asia) – the project helps raise awareness on the needs of the poor and the role that S&T can play in addressing them. Jointly funded by the Ateneo School of Government (Philippines) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre.