COMMUNITIES CAN HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

The Internet floods with information on the causes of climate change where both nature and man are acknowledged as culprits in speeding up the process. There are also doomsday predictions or the world ending as a result of unchecked changing climate and environments. The fact is that with the changing of large areas, some still unexplored niches may have been lost forever.

While world bodies are discussing how to retard or even turn around the rapidly changing world, the ordinary citizen asks himself how he and his community may be able to help out. On one hand, the oft repeated directive to plant trees are also sending the wrong signals especially when no specifics are added like the purpose for planting trees, the specific use for such tree species and a clear explanation of how the trees can help the person, farmer and his community. Also, without proper safeguards and stewardship, the tree planting activities end up as failures.

There are local government units, communities, individuals, farmers and farmer groups who had been successful in doing their share in helping slow down climate change. While savants are in agreement that it takes worldwide concerted effort, they also share the sentiment that communities and individuals should do their part. Here are some of the successful models here and abroad:

Plastics-free Communities:

Plastics and other products from synthetic sources, mostly petroleum in origin are acknowledged as the major source of pollution. Its property of slow degradation or decomposition makes disposal difficult and is attributed to the accumulation of large volumes not only in dump sites but all over, often causing the death of unsuspecting wildlife. There is already a worldwide drive to reduce plastics use and to develop biodegradable types of plastics but total shift to the latter may take a long time and therefore, the former or the need to reduce its use is more practical and achievable.

In the province of Iloilo, the Municipality of Sta. Barbara is the pioneer in coming up with an ordinance to limit the use of plastics. Several local supermarkets also came out with biodegradable plastic bags which deteriorate within months of exposure even at room temperature. Some of these supermarkets have also launched programs such as bonus or rebates for shoppers bringing their own bags for their purchases. It is seen that a city with a population of 200,000 can dispose at least 5 tons of plastics daily which only a miniscule will immediately decompose or degrade, leaving no toxic traces in the environment.

The process of decomposition especially by microorganisms