Philippines
Increasing risk of extreme precipitation and flooding will lead to more loss and damage
Already today the Philippines is severely affected by the adverse impacts of climate change.
As an island state, the Philippines is highly vulnerable to flooding caused by tropical cyclones and increasingly frequent heavy rainfall events.
These climate-related hazards have resulted in the loss of lives and the deterioration of infrastructure, including houses and roads.
Agricultural activities are particularly affected under such circumstances.
Ramon Aplaon, a community elder in Barangay Marupok, Sipalay City, cultivates rice and eggplants. According to the farmer, the combination of intense heat and heavy rains hampers the achievement of a bountiful harvest.
Studies indicate that there has been an increase in the frequency of extreme precipitation events over the past century, and this trend is expected to continue in the 21st century. Rising temperatures contribute to this phenomenon by accelerating evaporation rates. As a result, more evaporation leads to more precipitation, which is projected to become heavier and more intense in the upcoming years. Extreme precipitation events have significant impacts across various sectors.
Floods affect approximately 176,000 individuals each year in the Philippines. The severity of future flood risks depends largely on the ability of industrialized countries to swiftly and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would substantially reduce the risk of flooding, while temperature increases of 2°C or higher would elevate the average flood risk by approximately five percent.
Tropical cyclones, commonly known as typhoons, significantly contribute to flood damage in the Philippines by bringing about extreme rainfall and coastal flooding. The country is highly susceptible to these weather events and experiences a high frequency of approximately 20 tropical cyclones annually.
Consequently, the Philippines has incurred substantial losses and damages due to the destructive impact of typhoons.
Climate change impacts
in the Philippines
Increased Temperatures
Flooding and Landslides
Sea-level rise
Increased Frequency of Extreme Weather Events Like Extreme Rainfall
Typhoon Rai, locally known as Odette, made landfall in the Philippines in December 2021 and was deemed the most financially devastating typhoon since Typhoon Haiyan in 2013.
At least 409 people were killed by Odette in the Philippines, with many succumbing to drowning in the floodwaters. To ensure their safety, over 100,000 people were compelled to evacuate to higher ground, including individuals like Thelma Milotendo. The peasant farmer managed to safeguard her belongings from the storm's impact, but her house was destroyed when it became submerged.
Estimates suggest that Typhoon Odette has resulted in damages amounting to approximately 1.02 billion US dollars in damages.
With the projected increase in both intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, as well as the occurrence of floods, the losses and damages experienced in the Philippines are expected to escalate.