The poor image of the book cover, copied as-is from the original, tells this writer, editor & publisher that Elsevier does not care much about common citizens clearly catching climate change concepts. Sadly, they are sellingthe book without telling a main message.
Titled Climate Change Science and subtitled Causes, Effects And Solutions For Global Warming, the book is edited by David SK Ting & Jacqueline A Stagner and published by Elsevier, 21 May 2021, 302 pages.
(book cover image[1] from Elsevier)
Inadvertently, the hazy cover reflects humanity’s response to climate change! The question is: What can we do about climate change?
In the Philippines, “Science-Driven Fixes For Climate Change, Hunger Pushed In FAO[2]” is the title of an article by Jasper Y Arcalas (17 June 2021, BusinessMirror). While the event is global, Mr Arcalas reports only PH’s contribution via Secretary of Agriculture William Dar in the mid-June virtual discussion on “Combating Climate Change And Hunger Through Innovation” during the 42nd Session of the FAO Conference.
There, Mr Dar “called for greater international cooperation to institutionalize and advance science-driven innovations and technologies in agriculture to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and end hunger by 2030.”
A science writer who investigates his subject matters, I have learned that Man has 2 complementary responses to climate change: Adaptation and Mitigation. Adapt is to “adjust or modify;” mitigateis to “moderate” or “make less severe” (American Heritage Dictionary).
What did Mr Dar say was PH’s scientific response to climate change? I quote from Mr Arcalas, with my emendation:
Adaptation: “We employ modern technologies and innovations in our ongoing efforts to revitalize productivity and increase incomes of Filipino farmers and fishers.” Science reinvigorating productivity.
Mitigation: “We moderate the impact of climate change on food security.” Science lessening weather damage to food production.
Saying, “Agriculture is the mainspring of rural economic progress in the Philippines,” Mr Dar saw Filipinos must adapt our agriculture to the climate extremes of too wet and too dry season after season – even as government is “continuously encouraging stronger private sector investments and partnerships to attain sustainable agricultural modernization and industrialization, equitable prosperity, and national food security.”
More. Adaptation: Via science, we have to develop crops and livestock resilient with climate change. Mitigation: We have to develop methods to reduce the adverse effects of climate change when it happens. Now then, science must be “changing the dynamics of economic progress.” That is to say, leaders must see to it that in the balance, “the benefits from science-driven innovations reach small-scale farms and rural families to uplift their lives.”
Considering everyone, Mr Dar said:
Because of the complexities brought about by climate change and its impact on food systems, as well as the new normal brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, we should ensure that the benefits of science-driven innovation find a place in our farms, as well as in the homes of every rural family and ultimately, in every home in all societies.
Science must make sure no one is left behind!@517
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