Overview of MMSU and Environmental Laws

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Overview

• MMSU has a 3-star QS rating.
• Ranked 601-800 globally and 3rd among Philippine State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in 2023.
• Ranked 101st-200th in the 2024 WURI (World Universities with Real Impact).
• Holds the 2nd rank in the Philippines in the ASEAN 2024 public university ranking.

Preventive Measures and Alternative Solutions

• The presentation outlines preventive measures and alternative solutions—including International Laws, Major Environmental Laws of the Philippines, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Alternative Solutions—for unspecified issues.

International Laws

• Key international laws mentioned are the Montreal Protocol, Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), and the Paris Agreement.

Montreal Protocol

• An international treaty adopted on September 16, 1987.
• Aims to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
• Signed by 197 countries, with differing dates of ratification mentioned for various nations.
• Objectives: Phase out ODS use, protect human health and ecosystems from harmful UV radiation.
• Regular amendments address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), greenhouse gases replacing some ODS.
• Achievements: Phased out over 99% of ozone-depleting substances; prevented millions of skin cancer and cataract cases.
• Compliance: Parties submit regular reports on their ODS use, progress on phasing out these substances, dealing with exceeding allowed levels, and failure to report data.
• Penalties for non-compliance do not involve monetary fines. Domestic laws enforce the Montreal Protocol's provisions.
• Key questions include the protocol's main goal, its adoption year, and the number of countries that have ratified the Kigali Amendment.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• United Nations body evaluating climate-related science.
• Created in 1988 by UNEP and WMO.
• Has 195 member countries.
• Key functions: Assessing scientific information related to climate change, evaluating environmental and socio-economic impacts, and developing adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• IPCC Structure: Plenary, Bureau, Executive Committee, Working Groups I (Physical Science Basis), II (Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability), III (Mitigation of Climate Change), Task Force, and Secretariat.
• The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6): Found human-induced global warming causing climate change issues; urgent need to reduce emissions to limit warming.
• Types of reports: Assessment Reports (summarizing climate science, approximately every 6-7 years), Special Reports (focus on particular issues, e.g., 1.5°C Global Warming), and Methodology Reports (guide countries in calculating greenhouse gas emissions).

Paris Agreement

• Adopted in December 2015.
• Aims to strengthen the global response to climate change, fostering sustainable development and poverty eradication.
• Key points: Limiting global warming to well below 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels; increasing capacity to adapt to climate change; fostering climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining food production.
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each country specifies its own climate goals (updated every five years).
• Transparency Framework: Countries report their progress on meeting their commitments.
• Climate Finance: Developed nations support developing countries financially and technically.
• Philippines' Commitment: Pledging a 75% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030, conditional on international support; submitted its first NDC in 2021.
• Challenges: High vulnerability to climate impacts (e.g., typhoons, sea-level rise); reliance on international climate finance and capacity-building initiatives.