Karol Ilagan, an Assistant Professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and journalist, said there is a price to pay to realize environmental conditions without emission gases. He used the effort on Palawan Island, Philippines, as an example.
The condition of Palawan has significantly improved since the Philippines adopted a net zero policy following the Paris Agreement. According to Karol, this shift towards a more environmentally friendly approach has positively impacted both the local ecosystem and the livelihoods of the surrounding community.
Karol shared these insights during a workshop on sustainability and climate change organized by SBM ITB, on Thursday (7/11). The workshop garnered significant interest, particularly from international students studying at SBM ITB.
The workshop also featured Asnil Bambani, an Indonesian journalist based in Jakarta, who shared insights from his coverage on the significant effects of climate change on workers and industries in northern Java.
Asnil explained how climate change has raised global temperatures and increased the frequency of extreme weather events, including tropical storms, heavy rains, and rising sea levels. He emphasized that these phenomena are closely linked to human activities in daily life.
Highlighting Jakarta as a prime example, Asnil discussed the severe impact of climate change in Muara Baru, an area with a high risk of flooding due to higher sea levels than residential areas. “If we calculate the economic losses from flooding in recent years, the value reached IDR 960 billion in 2020,” he noted, stressing the urgency of climate disaster mitigation to protect industries and workers.
This workshop is an inspiring forum for activists and students to explore sustainability issues while fostering awareness of the importance of international collaboration in dealing with climate change. Through this event, participants are encouraged to take serious steps in managing climate risks to create economic sustainability and worker welfare in Indonesia.
