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“THE WATER IS ABOVE THE BRIDGE”:
IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
STILL POSSIBLE?
Antonio G.M. La Viña, JSD
Dean, Ateneo School of Government
All of these are causes of environmental
degradation, including climate change, but
can we do without them?
Can we adapt to the impacts of
Climate Change
Food Production
Infrastructure
Increased Flooding
Human health
Sea Level Rise
The Other Crisis: Losing the
Diversity of Life
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Extractive industries – logging, mining
Land conversion
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Agriculture
Human settlements
Trade in species
Invasive species
Global warming
Pollution
The Nitrogen Crisis
Is sustainable development still possible?
Seven Elements: Effective
Environmental Governance
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National leadership - political will, integration and
mainstreaming
Democratic local governments empowered and
accountable, representative, capable
Global cooperation essential
Access principles (Information, Participation, Justice)
Consensus building based on Common Interest
Bridging Business and Social Sectors
Scientific, technical, financial and human resources
FROM BALI TO COPENHAGEN
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Comprehensive Process to end in COP 15 in
Copenhagen
Long term goal for emissions reductions
Mitigation commitments by all developed countries,
including differentiated targets
Appropriate mitigation actions by developi9ng
countries
Addressing deforestation
Adaptation
Technology Transfer
Financial resources
Big Debate
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Prevention, Mitigation or Adaptation?
Are they necessarily in conflict with each
other?
My Answer
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We have to do all three. But it is time to think
seriously about making adaptation our priority
and first response.
Premises of this first answer:
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Environmental degradation is upon us. Whatever
we do now, we will already experience the impacts
of what we have done to our world.
The poor will suffer most from this degradation
and will benefit most if we think about adaptation.
Adaptation Strategies for Climate Change
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At the national and local
levels:
 Preparing for Disasters
 Planning for
Infrastructure
 Putting into place safety
nets
 Integrated coastal
management
 Intensify conservation of
biodiversity
 Population Issues
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At the international
levels:
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Cooperation on best
practices
Financial and technical
assistance
Carbon Dioxide Capture
and Storage
Manila Observatory in Mindoro: Example of
Low-cost Adaptation Technologies
Cup Type Anemometer
Gauge
Tipping Bucket Rain
Mitigation measures as part of adaptation.
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Renewable energy
Energy efficiency
Sustainable transport
Sustainable agriculture
Best practices in solid waste management
Adapting to Biodiversity Loss
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Protecting the last great places – national
parks, protected areas
Ex-situ Conservation
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Botanical gardens
National museums
Special depositories (The Artic Project)
Breeding Programs
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Conventional
Genetic engineering
NO REGRETS MEASURES
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IN SUM, GOOD ADAPTATION AND
MITIGATION MEASURES ARE NOREGRETS MEASURES. WE GAIN
EVRYTHING BY DOING THEM. THE
BENEFITS USUALLY JUSTIFY THE
COSTS.
Conclusion:
“Its sustainable development, stupid!”
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is
development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.”
The Brundtland Commission, 1987
Haiku in Kyoto
I do not want to be afraid of the rains
and long for the memory of how they once
made our mountains more beautiful to see
and I do not want to weep for my children
as I watch the sea.