February 12, 2022
Bridging climate data and lived experience
But these numbers are just numbers—abstract, impersonal concepts to many—until we understand what they mean for people, especially the most vulnerable.
What does a 2.1-degree rise in temperature mean for coastal communities? Will the ocean engulf their village? What will become of their homes and livelihoods?
And, after we answer these questions, how can we then tell the world that global warming is an urgent issue placing many Filipino lives at risk? If countries like the Philippines cannot shake the scale by cutting emissions, we must find other means to be heard and to influence world leaders to take serious actions.
This is what the DanTAOn Project, one of 10 teams supported by the Oscar M. Lopez Center’s (OML) Balangay Media Project, hopes to address.
“Hearing about how the term ‘storm surge’ failed to sufficiently convey Typhoon Haiyan’s magnitude to many coastal dwellers opened my eyes to just how important communicating well is. Language matters. Sometimes, it spells the difference between life and death,” shared lead editor Tanya Mariano.
“DanTAOn: Our climate stories as we journey one hundred years from now” aims to humanize the impacts of disasters and move people and nations to action. It seeks to present—through essays, photos, videos, and other formats—the narratives of people directly affected by climate change, and to visualize climate impacts using geographic information system (GIS) maps of sea-level rise projections from Climate Central.
Artistic renditions based on scientific data will also provide a glimpse of what life may look like for at-risk communities 100 years from now.
“I believe that part of our work is to help bring the stories of vulnerable communities into focus. Highlighting these stories, we hope to forge solidarity that can be leveraged to call for change that benefits most of society. But our work is not to speak for these communities; it’s to provide avenues and support so they may speak for themselves,” explained writer Issabelle Therese Baguisi.
From vague numbers and big projections to small communities and concrete lived experiences, the DanTAOn Project hopes to move these stories from the local frontlines to the global limelight.
“If there’s a platform to do something and an opportunity to make a difference, you’ll be surprised how many people will show up and be part of it. Studies and researches are all available. We can make space and help others make space for all of us to do something about the climate emergency,” said writer and researcher Amor Tan Singco.
Help us tell a richer, more human climate change narrative
By linking data and stories and making these accessible online, the DanTAOn Project team hopes to amplify calls for decisive action from those most accountable for climate change.
“As a development worker, I’ve heard recounts of what people thought were their last day on Earth. The trauma from these events remains with the communities, as does the threat,” project team leader Arch. Arlene Christy Lusterio said. “This is what climate change will continue to do to many vulnerable sites in the Philippines. Sharing these stories out with the public will emphasize what’s at stake in the fight against climate change. Though it’s extremely daunting to know that we’re not in control, hope remains. If we pool together our stories, we will have a louder voice,” Lusterio added.
Explore the stories on the DanTAOn platform at https://dantaon.org. If you want to collaborate or share your own climate stories with us, contact us at dantaon2022@gmail.com.
***
The DanTAOn Project Team is one of the recipients of the Umalohokan Fellowship to the Climate Media Labs and Umalohokan Grants under the Oscar M. Lopez Center’s Balangay Media Project—a program designed to support local media practitioners and climate change advocates by building their capacities for science-based reporting and utilizing traditional, new, and out-of-home media to promote climate change adaptation and resilience-building of communities.
The Climate Reality Project Philippines is a media partner of the 2021 Balangay Media Project.
***
Issabelle Therese M. Baguisi is a former Secretary General of the National Union of Students of the Philippines, a blogger/influencer, and a staunch advocate for social justice. She has rallied behind various social issues ranging from education, politics, cyber libel, and, more recently, disaster risk reduction and climate change.
ABOUT ELEVENTH HOUR
This article was originally published on The Climate Reality Project Philippines’ weekly column for the Manila Bulletin called Eleventh Hour.
This column serves a digital space to discuss our organization’s work on supporting the country’s just transition into a clean, affordable, and self-sufficient energy system; advancing sustainable urban mobility to highlight the issues of equity and democracy; and raising public awareness about the need to phase out single-use plastics. It also serves as a platform for Pinoy Climate Reality Leaders to share your stories, promote your climate initiatives, and provide critical insights to issues that matter to climate action, environmental protection, and sustainable development.