Local solutions proposed for global environmental problems

Bea Orante

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

'The best solutions themselves, according to the experts, are the simplest ones'
YOLANDA's WRATH. Residents try to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda. AFP/Ted Aljibe

MANILA, Philippines – As the planet experiences more extreme weather events, what can countries do to prepare and adapt to them?

Climate change and energy experts shared their thoughts on how climate change will impact on us and the solutions to the problems we will face during the first day of the Energy and Sustainability panel of the HPAIR 2015 Asia Conference.

They criticized some aspects of the international community’s attempts to curb the effects of rising carbon emissions and the depletion of energy resources. 

Anne Siders, a former Associate Director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, began by posing the question of how can society prepare for the extreme weather coming in the future. For Siders, a rapidly changing environment, one that would look vastly different in fifteen years, requires a reassessment of energy use. 

Carbon tax 

For Japhet Kariuki, Future Energy Leader of the World Energy Council, the carbon tax is an answer to the problem of carbon emissions. As a solution, however, it’s not as simple as it seems due to its wide implementation in 250 countries. Furthermore, a carbon tax is not equitable as countries like the Philippines that emit less carbon than other countries often bear the brunt of the damaging effects of global warming.

The differences in the local versus global situations means that developing countries, especially those that are undergoing rapid development, would have to put in place strong institutions who have a vision for industry in their respective nations and are able to implement their visions.

Tana Jambaldorj, Planning Analyst at Rio Tinto, used the example of Mongolia. It was a rapidly growing country with 17% of foreign investment in the mining industry, but it did not know what to do with it. This resulted in a “haphazard” set of rules for the mining industry and the wealth it generated. She stressed the importance of making the mining and extracting industries capable of being environmentally responsible.

Global problem, local solutions 

For the panel, fixing the relatively unique environmental problems of countries involves local engagement with the problems and a different approach. Siders cited “Stop Trying to Save the World,” an article by Michael Hobbes featured in The New Republic, in talking about localizing solutions. “Just because it works in one place doesn’t mean you can scale up and use it to save the world,” she said.

This applied to sustainable development as well. Lauded as a general answer to the world’s environmental problems, Siders believes that it wasn’t so much a solution as a step.

What is needed, according to Siders, is finding better ways to find the problem and being able to communicate solutions better. Actually identifying the problem is sometimes the most important part. Where is the barrier between talk and action?she said.

The best solutions themselves are, according to the panel, the simplest ones. Kariuki looks to Norways example of harnessing its waste for energy production and compares it to Manila which has tons of waste.Finally, being able to move between fields and communicate information is important and this is where interdisciplinary studies plays a major role. For Siders, Knowing what to do to put the information out there is important.” – Rappler.com

Bea Orante is a Rappler Intern.

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