Climate Resilience in the Philippines
Climate resilience in the Philippines starts with accountability. The country is highly vulnerable to typhoons, monsoon rains, sea-level rise, and persistent flooding.
According to historian Karl Jacoby, this exposure to environmental crisis has given rise to what he calls
‘moral ecology’, where disasters are explained in moral terms and blame is assigned.
In the Philippines, this has taken the form of public calls for discipline, with vulnerability to disaster blamed on individual shortcomings such as lack of foresight or civic responsibility.
Political leaders often portray disasters not only as the result of natural hazards but also of lapses in personal or community practices of ordinary Filipinos, including failing to dispose of garbage properly, living in slum areas that obstruct waterways, or lacking discipline in the face of adversity.
Author's summary: Philippines' climate resilience hindered by lack of accountability.