Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities
REACTIVE
UN oceans report a clarion call to unite behind the science

QUEZON CITY, 26 September 2019 – The Climate Change Commission in partnership with Rare and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) today held a joint press briefing on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on oceans and climate change.

In response to the landmark report, which was released yesterday, Denise Fontanilla, associate for policy advocacy of ICSC, said:

“The IPCC oceans report serves as a clarion call for humanity to cut back its carbon emissions significantly and to limit global warming to 1.5C, if we are to survive and thrive.

“According to the report, sea levels are rising more than twice as fast now compared to the 20th century, with devastating impacts for islands and other low-lying coastal communities. But a 2018 PAGASA report and other studies confirm that sea level rise in the Philippines is higher compared to the global average.

“Now more than ever, we must unite behind the science. All sectors must help in integrating climate change into long-term development planning at all levels. And all countries must confront the climate crisis.

“Today marks ten years since the landfall of Typhoon Ondoy, which brought climate change at the forefront of the consciousness of the Filipino people. Yet even as we continue to prepare for typhoons and extreme weather events, we must look more into sea level rise, ocean acidification, and other slow onset events associated with the adverse impacts of climate change. We are proud to work with scientists such as Ms. Lourdes Tibig, the only Filipino author of the IPCC oceans report, to advance urgent scientific work on climate change.”

ABOUT
The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) is an international climate and energy policy group promoting climate resilience and low carbon development.

PHOTOS © AC Dimatatac/ICSC

CONTACT
AC Dimatatac, media coordinator: media@icsc.ngo

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