The Philippines’ geography makes it acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In 2019, it was rated as the most vulnerable country to climate change, with both rapid and slow-moving impacts currently unfolding throughout the country.
On average, the Philippines is hit by 20 typhoons a year. Evidence suggests that warmer ocean temperatures (and rising sea-levels) are super-charging typhoons, making them far more powerful and destructive. Five of the most deadly typhoons on record in the Philippines happened since 2006. The most deadly on record was super typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, which reached wind speeds of up to 195 mph, killed 6,300 people, and left millions homeless. Typhoons are often followed by storm surges, which can be equally destructive.
Heavy rains have caused flooding and landslides across the Philippines, which can increase the spread of water-borne diseases. Dengue epidemics still occur every 3–4 years, and diarrhoea remained the fifth most common cause of death in 2010. Heavy rains have also disrupted the production of key crops, such as rice, which puts financial and social pressures on households.
As the Philippines comprises a collection of low-lying islands, the country is extremely susceptible to rising sea-levels. To date, the country has already experienced 60cm of sea-level rise, at a rate which is approximately three-times faster than the global average. Sea-level rise threatens all aspects of life in the Philippines and is currently not being addressed sufficiently through government policy.
Around 50 percent of the Philippines’ 111 million population lives in urban areas, with many of the cities in coastal areas, making the entire nation vulnerable to sea level rise and mass displacements.
The population of the Philippines is heavily reliant on fish for food and industry. It’s the 8th biggest fishing nation in the world, with the yearly haul of two million tonnes of fish estimated to be worth $2.5 billion. Yet rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and pollution are pushing coral reefs to the brink, which will have knock-on effects for a whole host of marine populations. For instance, temperature spikes of 4-5 degrees Celsius above normal have been recorded in Philippine oceans, which can cause mass-bleaching events.
Due to marine pressures and the country’s susceptibility to typhoons (and the subsequent storm surges), the Philippines could face increasing food insecurity.
High humidity in the Philippines is also a significant challenge, especially for the elderly. A high number of cities throughout the country are at high-risk of heat exposure related health impacts.
There seems to be ambition for rapid climate action in the Philippines. The country revised its objective to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, up from a target of 70% set four years before. However, targets must be followed with action.