Smarter solutions for hotter times: what the Philippines can do
Authors: Angeli Guadalupe, Akihiko Ozaki, Tetsuya Tanimoto
Journal: The Lancet Planetary Health (2018)

The Philippines was the country fifth-most affected by extreme weather events over the past two decades (1997–2016),1Eckstein D Künzel V Schäfer L Global climate risk index 2018. Who suffers most from extreme weather events? Weather-related loss events in 2016 and 1997 to 2016.https://germanwatch.org/en/download/20432.pdfGoogle Scholar and recent work2Mora C Dousset B Caldwell I et al.Global risk of deadly heat.Nat Clim Change. 2017; 7: 501-506Crossref Scopus (630) Google Scholar, 3University of Hawai'i at MānoaHeatwaves: number of deadly heat days.https://maps.esri.com/globalriskofdeadlyheat/#Google Scholar has suggested that Mindanao—the southern group of islands in the Philippines—could experience year-long heatwaves by 2050 under the worst case scenario. Publication of the study2Mora C Dousset B Caldwell I et al.Global risk of deadly heat.Nat Clim Change. 2017; 7: 501-506Crossref Scopus (630) Google Scholar came in June, 2017, when fierce heatwaves struck broad areas of western Europe and the USA. The catastrophic heatwave in Europe caused wildfires in Portugal and Spain, with at least 64 people killed in Portugal.4World Weather AttributionEuropean heat.https://wwa.climatecentral.org/analyses/europe-heat-june-2017/Date: June 2017Google Scholar Additionally, in the USA, the extreme heat led to an increased use of air-conditioners and subsequent large-scale power outages, and numerous cancelled flights.5Park M How hot is it in the West? Let us count the ways.http://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/20/us/weather-west-heat-wave/index.htmlDate: 2017Google Scholar News of the massive impact of heatwaves globally compelled Filipinos to realise that the future anticipated in the study could occur in reality. Indeed, one can imagine that the possible health effects of heatwaves in the Philippines would be striking, considering the substantial damage of the dry spell in the Philippines in 2007. During that phenomenon, droughts led to a decline in productivity of hydroelectric power, a malfunction of irrigation systems and subsequent decrease in agricultural production, and the spread of diseases in human beings (eg, viral conjunctivitis) and animals (eg, hog cholera).6Yumul G Cruz N Dimalanta CB et al.The 2007 dry spell in Luzon (Philippines): its cause, impact and corresponding response measures.Clim Change. 2010; 100: 633-644Crossref Scopus (14) Google Scholar Global warming is the obvious mechanism underlying the rising incidence of heatwaves in recent years. Indeed, it is projected that 73·9% of the world's population could experience at least 20 days per year of deadly heat and humidity in 2100, unless greenhouse gas emissions are substantially suppressed in near future.2Mora C Dousset B Caldwell I et al.Global risk of deadly heat.Nat Clim Change. 2017; 7: 501-506Crossref Scopus (630) Google Scholar In such contexts, each national authority is required to plan and carry out multidimensional countermeasures to this imminent issue, and the Philippines is no exception. For example, the Department of Health in the Philippines has recently released an advisory statement about prevention and management of heat strokes.7Philippines Department of HealthHeat stroke.http://www.doh.gov.ph/node/295Google Scholar Although we acknowledge the importance of such health advice, these measures alone will not be sufficient to provide a better future for Filipinos. Instead, the most important action for the country is to set a long-term goal and make the first step to alleviate the issue of global warming. President Rodrigo Duterte and his cabinet members signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on Feb 28, 2017. This change was a welcome one from his initial pronouncement that he would not sign the protocol, insisting that developed countries, such as the USA and those in Europe, should take a larger responsibility than developing nations in the pursuit of a sustainable development plan. As the Philippines is now mandated to implement its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030, compared with the 219 million tons of carbon projected to be produced under a business-as-usual scenario,8Dizon N PH vows to lower carbon emissions 70% by 2030.http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/727316/ph-vows-to-lower-carbon-emissions-70-by-2030Google Scholar the country demonstrated the importance of international collaboration and self-sacrifice. This behaviour is totally opposite to that of the USA, which shockingly withdrew from the pact to protect its own economy. Although no standard solution exists to achieve the INDC target, one of the most plausible measures is to decrease the use of fossil fuels and establish alternative sources of electricity. Recently, there has been a drastic rise in the use of solar power in the Philippines with 1097 GWh generated in 2016 compared with only 139 GWh in 2015.9Philippines Department of EnergySummary of installed capacity, dependable capacity, power generation and consumption.https://www.doe.gov.ph/sites/default/files/pdf/energy_statistics/summary_2016_power_statistics_final_march_27_2017.pdfDate: 2016Google Scholar The use of solar power is associated with multiple benefits. Along with increased independence from fossil fuels and decreased greenhouse gas emissions, this energy source reduces the energy needed for air-conditioning by 12%, partly through provision of extra shade on the roof, and provides reductions in the urban heat island effect (by 0·2 K during the day and 0·3 K during the night).10Masson V Bonhomme M Salagnac J et al.Solar panels reduce both global warming and urban heat island.Front Environ Sci. 2014; 2: 14Crossref Scopus (67) Google Scholar Yet, there are hurdles than need to be overcome before achieving its wider implementation. Solar power is expensive,10Masson V Bonhomme M Salagnac J et al.Solar panels reduce both global warming and urban heat island.Front Environ Sci. 2014; 2: 14Crossref Scopus (67) Google Scholar and it remains to be seen whether the extended energy supply can facilitate improved access to air conditioning equipment and alleviate the impact of heatwaves among the general population in the Philippines. In such sense, whether the Philippines is able to reach the INDC target depends on the magnitude of assistance from developed countries, which could be in the form of funds, technology transfer, human resources, and so on. These arguments are highly relevant for countries that plan to adopt this reusable energy, particularly those in the tropics, where a year-long adequate supply of sunlight is available. Beyond the single case of the Philippines, smart solutions such as the use of solar power should be supported and implemented as soon as possible to mitigate the progress of climate change before it claims more human lives. Now is the time to emphasise international cooperation against the trend of national particularism in developed countries, not only to enliven the historic positive move of the Philippines, but also to pave the way for other tropical countries. We declare no competing interests.