More Filipinos believe climate change dangerous: survey

MANILA, Philippines – Seven out of 10 Filipinos believe that climate change is a danger to both the environment and their families, a new survey by Pulse Asia revealed Monday.

The survey, conducted last July 1 to 11, showed that 71% of Filipinos believe climate change is dangerous for the environment. The figure is 10 points higher than the 61% recorded in 2008.

The survey also showed that 70% of Filipinos believe climate change is dangerous to themselves and their families, which is 8 points higher than the 62% recorded 2 years ago.

Pulse Asia said the sense of danger from climate change is more pronounced among Metro Manila respondents (81% to 84%) than among those in the rest of Luzon and Mindanao (61% to 68%).

“In part, this may be attributed to the devastation experienced by Metro Manilans as a result of Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009 and the water crisis that hit parts of Metro Manila in July,” Pulse Asia said.

Pulse Asia describes climate change as “any long-term significant change in the average weather that a given region experience.” It can be caused by dynamic processes on earth, variations in sunlight intensity and in the past hundreds of years by human activities such as clearing of forests, technology and industry.

The survey showed that 2 in 3 Filipinos (66%) noted a big change in the climate in their place over the last 3 years. The biggest change was in Metro Manila, which had 77% of respondents noting a significant change in the weather compared to only 58% two years ago.

Only a small majority of Filipinos (52%) reported having a wide or sufficient knowledge about climate change, the survey said.

When asked to list the activities they have done or are currently doing for the environment, majorities of Filipinos say they recycle (62%), plant trees (60%), and segregate waste (60%).

The other environmental activities included in the survey are mentioned by fewer than half of the respondents:

educating others about environmental protection (35%),
following environmental laws (33%),
buying environment-friendly goods (17%),
voting for proenvironment  candidates (16%),
joining environmental groups (9%),
signing pro-environment petitions (6%),
donating to environmental groups (4%),
and joining protest actions regarding environmental issues (3%).

Only 3% has not done or is not currently doing anything to help protect the environment. –abs-cbnNEWS.com