Enabling Approaches

to Sustainability

SESSION 3
Ruth Sarra Guzman
Professor, Rizal Technological University
and Board Chair, PATLEPAM
Manila, Philippines
Outline
 Introduction
 The Ecosystem Perspective -
 Basic Ecological Principles
 Environmental Principles
 Ensuring Environmental Sustainability
 Sustainable Development Paradigm
 Social, Economic and Ecological Perspectives
 SD and Climate Change

Sustainable  Alternative development pathways Climate

development  Climate
Sectoral environment/ economic policies
change
policies
 Institutional/managerial changes change
 Innovation/ technological change policies

Sustainable  Avoided climate change damage

 Ancillary benefits/costs
development  Spillovers/trade effects
 Innovation/technological change

Two-way linkages between climate change and sustainable development. Source: Swart et.al (2003)
 The State of Environment

• One of 17 mega-diverse countries in the world

 Containing two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity
 70-80% of the world’s endangered species
 The State of Environment

• 4th in the World in bird endemism

• 5th in the World in mammal endemism
• 5th in the World in number of plant species
• 8th in the World in reptile endemism
 The State of Environment
Puerto Princesa Subterranean River Mayon Volcano
National Park

Chocolate Hills Tubbataha Reef

Candidates for
the
NEW 7
WONDERS OF
THE WORLD
 The State of Environment

Verde Island Passage Marine Corridor

(Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion)

Center of the center of marine shorefish diversity

in the world
 The State of Environment
Philippine Water Resources
Water Supply = 146.0 Bcu.m
Water Consumption = 40.9 Bcu.m

Consumption Ratio = 28.0%

The State of Environment

• One of the hottest ‘hot

spots’ in habitat destruction
 The State of Environment

• Massive loss of forest cover which is now down to

only about 18% of our total land area
• Only about 800,000 hectares of virgin forest left
 The State of Environment

• Threatened and endangered species (increasing in about

9.7% annually)
• Only 5% of our coral reefs remain in excellent condition
• 30-50% of our seagrass beds were lost in the last 50 years
• Only 112,400 hectares of mangroves left (decline from
450,000 ha in 1918)
 The State of Environment

• The degradation of coastal and marine ecosystem has affected fish production
• Catch per municipal fisherman significantly went down from about 1500 kg per
year in 1987 to about 1100 kg per year in 1996 and declining still because of
overfishing
 The State of Environment

• Groundwater levels going down by 5-10 meters for the last

several decades that led to saline intrusion and ground
subsidence
• Sixteen major rivers, five in Metro Manila, are biologically-dead
during summer months due to pollution
• 48% of water pollution is caused by household waste,
compounded by the lack of an adequate sewerage system
 The State of Environment

• TSP levels above the standards by as much as

200% causing adverse health impacts
 The State of Environment

• In 2000, 76M Filipinos generated over 10 million tons of

municipal solid wastes.
• In 2007, waste generated was 12.45 million tons.
• On 2012, waste projection is pegged at 14 million tons
 The State of Environment

VAST MINERAL
RESOURCES Only 1.4% being
30% or 9 Million exploited
Hectares
High-Potential
70%

Low-Medium Potential

Mineral Land Distribution

(As % of Total Philippine Land Area)

Land Area: 30 million Hectares

 Global catastrophes are happening
… And will continue to happen…
 THE NEED FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
•PRESENTLY
– Alarming rate of environmental
degradation
– Adverse environmental issues and
problems
– Bring havoc and poses a very
serious problem
 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS –
DO WE KNOW THEM ALL?
Climate change Ozone depletion

Deforestation and desertification Water scarcity (freshwater)

Losses of soil Reduction of biodiversity

Land, atmosphere and ocean Scarcity of natural resources and

pollution energy
Food security Depletion of biological resources

Overpopulation Residue production

Accelerating trends of urbanization Development of megacities

 PHILOSOPHY
“Forhumankind to SURVIVE and IMPROVE its
QUALITY OF LIFE, it is ABSOLUTELY
NECESSARY for Everyone to become Aware of
and Understand Humanity’s Relation to the
Environment.
Develop Values and Attitudes of
Conservation and Social Justice, and
Act, Alone or in Groups, in such Ways as
to Correct or Prevent Environmental
Problems” .

TO SAVE MANKIND, EVERYONE SHOULD BE

ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
• Finiteness of Resources
– Ours is a Finite Earth
– Ang Kalikasan ay may
Hangganan
The natural resources needed
to maintain the lifestyle of
one person in the United
States are equal to what is
required by 200 to 300 Asians.

Imagine what would happen if

the same North American
lifestyle were to be extended
to people everywhere.
• Materials Cycle/Pollution
– Everything Must Go Somewhere
– Ang Lahat ay may Patutunguhan
 THE LINEAR SOCIETY
Resources

Production

Consumption

Where shall we put it?

WASTE

Waste Disposal Industry

Is it safe?
Waste Regulation Industry

GARBAGE DISPOSAL MENTALITY

• Balance of Nature
Nature Knows Best
Ang Kalikasan ang Mas
Nakakaalam
• Diversity and Stability
All Forms of Life are Important
Ang Lahat ng Uri ng may
Buhay ay Mahalaga
• Change
– Everything Changes
– Ang Lahat ay Nagbabago
 CHANGES

Cyclic
Seasons
Night and Day
Tides
Biogeochemical: C-O, N, P, S,
Cycles
Hydrologic Cycle
 Linear

Erosion

Corrosion of metals

Extinction of Species
Random/Catastrophic

• Volcanic eruptions

• Earthquakes

• Meteor showers

• Landslides, Mudslides
Floods
• Interdependence
Everything is Connected to
Everything Else
Ang Lahat ay Magkaugnay
CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE
• COMPLEX INTERACTIONS EXIST
BETWEEN THE LIVING AND NON-
LIVING COMPONENTS OF THE
ECOSYSTEM.
 CONCEPT OF INTERDEPENDENCE
• The structure and function of ecological
systems are interrelated with socio-economic
systems.

SOCIOECONOMIC SYSTEM
ECOLOGICAL
SYSTEM
Thank you