International Mother Earth Day

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N the past, we were accustomed to classes being suspended due to typhoons, heavy rains and floods. It is only recently, and especially this month, that classes have been suspended due to extreme heat waves that go as high as 45 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country. In order not to compromise the health safety of students, teachers and nonteaching personnel, the Department of Education (DepEd) has given the school heads of all public elementary and secondary schools the authority and discretion to suspend the conduct of in-person classes and shift to alternative delivery mode (ADM).

DepEd supervises more than 47,000 schools nationwide, so the assessment of climate situations should be localized to ensure timely response and interventions for the benefit of students and personnel. Younger pupils are particularly susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as respiratory issues since their bodies are still incapable of regulating internal body temperature like adults. Extreme heat also makes it difficult for students to concentrate on their studies and interferes with their learning experience.

Of course, this move, which is certainly commendable, is merely a response to a symptom.

Scientists have warned us that heat rise is the clearest signal of climate change, that heat waves are getting more frequent and intense as greenhouse gas levels accumulate, and that heat will get even worse and deadlier over the next 30 years.

It is an opportune time to remember this, as we just observed International Mother Earth Day last Monday, April 22, although we have to remember every single day that the Earth and its ecosystems are our common home, and we need to protect them from harm caused by manmade changes to nature and acts that disrupt biodiversity. Heat waves and other signs of climate change point to the need to shift to a more sustainable economy. The Philippine government and the private sector have committed to turning their climate change goals into actions. But protecting the planet is everyone’s responsibility.

This year’s Earth Day theme is “Planet vs. Plastic” and calls for a 60 percent reduction in plastic use by 2040. The large amount of plastic waste polluting oceans, lakes and rivers is also finding its way into food systems, threatening human health.

This theme raises awareness of the urgent need to address the plastic crisis and its impact on the planet’s health. The campaign includes everyone: families, neighborhoods, academic communities, businesses, governments and NGOs, in the call for a significant reduction in plastic production. The goals include raising awareness of the harm caused by plastics, phasing out single-use plastics by 2030, and investing in innovative technologies for a plasticfree world.

What can we do, as individuals and as groups, to minimize plastic consumption?

Avoid single-use plastics like grocery bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery and straws. Opt for reusable alternatives such as eco bags, paper straws or plant straws, which are biodegradable and compostable.

Stop buying bottled water and carry a reusable water bottle or flask.

Cook homemade meals to reduce the need for takeout containers and plastic packaging.

Buy secondhand items to decrease the use of new products and their plastic packaging.

Support the circular economy: reuse, repurpose and exchange goods to keep plastics out of the waste stream.

Select produce without plastic packaging and bring your reusable eco bags or baskets.

Buy in bulk to reduce packaging waste, although we are also aware that not everyone can afford to do this, given our tiny culture caused by poverty.

Choose products in glass bottles or containers made from recycled plastic.

But what does the reduction of plastic use have to do with mitigating heat waves?