Filipinos need to utilize opportunities available to everyone now that the warming of the planet’s climate system is "unequivocal," a Filipino scientist said.

Addressing students of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City last Friday, Dr. Rodolfo De Guzman of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a Filipino who works as special adviser to the secretary-general and concurrent acting director of the Education and Training Department of the WMO based in Geneva, Switzerland since 1981, pointed out how every person can do his part to mitigate the effects of climate change.

De Guzman talked about climate change, which was largely drawn from the work of the WMO – the United Nations (UN) system’s authoritative voice on weather, climate and water – and the UN-led panel Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

De Guzman said that "unequivocal" climate change is already occurring, aggravated by manmade activities that lead to abrupt or irreversible impact.

Learning from the observations of the UN-led panel on climate change represented by 2,500 international scientists, De Guzman said: "We need to go from concept to action which starts in each of us."

The IPCC has been urging the world community to immediately utilize cost-effective policies, and current and emerging technologies to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

De Guzman cited that simple measures such as turning lights off when not in use or when there is still ample light lead to 30 percent savings in electricity.

He cited that in Britain, the population drinks 229 million cups of tea and coffee every day, which is enough to fill 22 Olympic-size swimming pools.

"Each time we boil the kettle we use more water than we need, and we also waste valuable energy and contribute to climate change," he said.

"We should check on our tire pressure because lower tire pressure means higher energy saved of about 25-30 percent," he added. One study suggests that the right tire pressure can reduce fuel consumption by over five percent.

De Guzman stressed that changes in lifestyle is the key factor in mitigating the effects of climate change.

In addition, he pointed out that positive measures are being undertaken by local governments and individuals to reduce emissions and cope with climate change.

"Resources for climate and related services should be considered as investment and not expenditure," De Guzman pointed out.

Recently, the Philippine government has expressed support for the call of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for developed countries to further cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 from its original five percent reduction commitments in the 1998 Kyoto Protocol.

Based on studies, industrialized countries contribute 70 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

Even if the Philippines contribute only around 0.38 percent of total emissions worldwide, it is expected to bear the brunt of the ill effects of adverse weather conditions caused by global warming.

"Engaging representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society working on development and climate change is now a priority. Climate change and development are inextricably linked – the causes of climate change lie in the past development patterns of the developed countries; curbing and coping with the impacts of climate change will lie in the future development patterns of all countries," De Guzman said.

"Integrating climate change and development policies will therefore likely be among the primary factors in determining whether the international community will address climate change equitably and effectively, or whether climate change will worsen and further increase current disparities," he added.

He said that in the Philippines, policies for sustainable development needs to be integrated at all levels, at the barangay, municipal, provincial, and national levels.