Pitfalls and Pipelines - Philippine Indigenous Peoples Links

Chapter 1.3: Indigenous Peoples, Mining and Climate Change
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Scientists say the build-up of heat-trapping greenhouse
gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, in the atmosphere
is already underway and will lead to an average raise
in temperature of at least two degrees Celsius during this century,
while many others now predict global temperature rise
of up to six degrees Celsius over 1990 levels. 4
The exact effects of such rapid temperature rises are hard
to predict but scientists have suggested the following:
• Melting of the polar icecaps, permafrost and glaciers;
• A resulting significant rise in sea level;
• Changes in weather patterns—including increasing
droughts, heat waves and more powerful, and possibly
unseasonal, storms. 5
Scientists are struggling to keep up in their predictions
with the already visible and alarmingly rapidly developing
manifestations of global warming. Some low lying island states,
with indigenous populations, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans
are fearful for their continued existence even if there are only
moderate increases in sea level.
Many coastal regions will also be affected. We can predict
that efforts will be made to protect major cities, but less concern
is likely to be shown for areas with indigenous populations.
An increasing number of scientists are now predicting—
within this century—average temperature rises in excess of
four degrees Celsius. The subsequent prediction for sea level
rises is anything from 9 cm to 880 cm (3-34.6 inches). 6
1.3.2 Mining’s Contribution to Climate
Change
Scientists urge strong mitigating measures to cut the generation
of greenhouse gases, and thereby limit the predicted
negative effects. Most governments are now also committed
via their own policies and international agreements to measures
attempting to minimize the degree and mitigate the effects
of climate change. Some countries are furthermore com-