Pulse Asia: Only 52% of Filipinos know about climate change

Even after the country has been hit by devastating tropical cyclones caused by climate change, only 52 percent of Filipinos know what the term “climate change" actually means, the public opinion polling body Pulse Asia said. The survey, conducted July 1 to 11 on a multistage probability sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above, showed that 52 percent of Filipinos said they have a wide or sufficient knowledge about climate change. "About one in two Filipinos (52%) has a wide/sufficient knowledge as regards climate change while the rest (48%) has little or almost no or no knowledge at all about the matter. These figures are essentially the same as those obtained by Pulse Asia in its July 2008 Ulat ng Bayan survey (55% and 45%, respectively)," it said. The other important findings of the study, published on Monday at the Pulse Asia website are: • Most Filipinos (66%) experienced a big change in climate in the past three years • The predominant sentiment among Filipinos is that climate change is dangerous not only for the environment (71%) but also for their families and themselves (70%) • For a sizeable majority of Filipinos (63%), the recent calamities experienced by the Philippines and other countries may be attributed to human-induced environmental destruction • Filipinos are relatively active in environmental protection with most of them engaged in recycling (62%), tree planting (60%), and waste segregation (60%); sizeable percentages of Filipinos (20% to 30%) are prepared to do still more for the environment The survey showed a rise in the number of Filipinos who consider climate change a danger to the environment, partly due to devastation caused last year by typhoon "Ondoy," said to be one of the deadliest typhoons ever to hit the country. Ondoy (international name Ketsana), which hit the country on September 26 last year, killed 747 people and caused billions of damage to agriculture, livestock, and property. It was said to have dumped one month’s worth of rains in about six hours. The Pulse Asia survey said most of those in the Visayas (56 percent) and Metro Manila (63 percent), as well as Classes ABC and D (54 to 58 percent), say they have “at least enough knowledge about climate change" but those in class E (55 percent) have little or no knowledge at all about climate change. Climate change dangerous to environment, families The survey also showed two out of three Filipinos (66 percent) personally experienced a big change in the climate in the past three years. Majority of Filipinos said climate change is dangerous not only for the environment (71 percent) but also for their families and themselves (70%). "For seven in ten Filipinos (70% to 71%), climate change poses a danger to the environment and to their families. Majorities across geographic areas consider climate change to be dangerous for the environment (66% to 81%) and their families (61% to 84%). The sense of danger is more pronounced among Metro Manilans (81% to 84%) than among those in the rest of Luzon and Mindanao (61% to 68%)," Pulse Asia said. "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 2010," it said. Pulse Asia also noted some 63% believe the recent calamities experienced by the Philippines and other countries may be attributed to human-induced environmental destruction. "The majority opinion among Filipinos is that the various calamities that hit the Philippines and other countries in recent months are the result of humanity’s environmentally destructive ways (63%)," it said. Meanwhile, around 21 percent of Filipinos see these calamities as God’s way of warning or punishing countries that have turned to evil ways – a view supported by 32 percent of those in Mindanao. Active in environmental protection Filipinos are relatively active in environmental protection with most of them engaged in recycling (62%), tree planting (60%), and waste segregation (60%). The survey also showed that a sizeable percentage of Filipinos (20% to 30%) are prepared to do still more for the environment. 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 cited by the respondents include: educating others about environmental protection (35%)' following environmental laws (33%); buying environment-friendly goods (17%); voting for pro-environment 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 percent of the respondents said they have not done anything to help protect the environment. "Compared to the March 2005 figures, more Filipinos are now engaged in recycling, tree planting, waste segregation, and environment education with participation levels in these activities up by 8 to 30 percentage points between March 2005 and July 2010," Pulse Asia said. The other environmental activities Filipinos are "ready to do" include voting for pro-environment candidates (15%); signing petitions on environmental issues (13%); joining pro-environment protest actions (8%), and giving money to environmental groups (6%). About one in ten Filipinos (9%) claimed not to be prepared to do anything for the environment. – VVP, GMANews.TV