Author: climaterealityph

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.
***

According to Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman in his book Consuming Life, consumerist culture values individualism, transience over the duration, reinvention, and the ability to acquire things quickly. Through social media, this hurried culture has seamlessly forced itself upon us and permeated our daily lives. Whether it be advertisements on our feeds or influencers with large followings, the masses of online media and personalities are almost always trying to sell us something, whether it’s a product, feeling, or lifestyle. Oftentimes, there needs to be something bought for us to satisfy this aspiration.

The breakneck speed of social media urges brands, influencers, and consumers to be on-trend to stay relevant, thus driving the promotion and purchasing of fashion items, food, home decor, and mobile electronics at an unprecedented rate. This mania of consumption has manifested itself in seemingly innocuous haul videos— especially from fast fashion brands—and flex culture, a way of showing off purchases that indicate an abundance of wealth.

On an alarming note, large e-commerce companies are not only offering the usual seasonal holiday sales but are now commonly seen promoting monthly sales in hopes of beating the competition and reaching higher targets. Combine these ubiquitous (and extremely tempting) sales with our need for instant gratification, and you get a recipe for climate disaster. 

There are studies that show e-commerce produced fewer carbon dioxide emissions than traditional brick-and-mortar shopping, but what’s better for the environment isn’t quite clear cut, especially when factors like consumer behavior, logistics, and waste aren’t unaccounted for. With social media’s material-centric culture of consumerism, this notion that online shopping is largely more eco-friendly seems improbable.

The speed and frequency of online purchases are producing a phenomenal volume of plastic packaging waste that ends up in our oceans and landfills. Shopping from different distribution centers, purchasing from farther locations, and instances like missed deliveries and returns result in higher green gas emissions per purchase. Due to the overconsumption driven by social media, these negative environmental impacts will only worsen if this business-as-usual scenario is let on.

While online shopping is convenient for a multitude of reasons, there must be a fine line drawn between what’s necessary and what’s excessive. As e-commerce provides jobs for people and is the safer way of business in this pandemic, it should be noted that it’s a complex issue with regard to living sustainably. The burden lies among all of us, albeit in varying degrees. Businesses must foster more sustainable practices while consumers have the power to make mindful purchases that are less damaging to the environment.

Although pressuring sellers to be more sustainable and eco-friendlier is productive, it’s also important to question the systems in place. Rather than shaming individuals who are most likely just trying to make a living, we should all be supporting green practices and policies, and giving more power to sustainable businesses so that their competition will follow. 

To stop feeding this system of overconsumption, I believe that there must be more green jobs, more sustainable policies, and a more even distribution of wealth. If green jobs are much more accessible and basic needs are being met, would sellers still resort to exploitative and unsustainable means to earn a living? From career choices to purchasing decisions, I believe that individuals would uphold more eco-friendly lifestyles if given the chance—greed, materialism, and ignorance aside.

While this culture of consumerism has seeped into our daily lives, we do have the power to educate ourselves and be more conscious about our purchasing decisions. Be wary of what you typically see online and adopt perspectives that are good for ourselves and the environment.

Buy less, choose well, and make your purchases last. Be intentional with who you follow online, support local and eco-friendly businesses, and do what you can in demanding more sustainable alternatives from brands. Focus on how your life feels rather than how it looks online, where people feel that they constantly need to prove their status and identity through never-ending, avoidable purchases. 

Online shopping is here to stay, but what we can do is to be more mindful of our lifestyle choices. Let us not be carelessly swayed by the demands of a consumerist culture, as they are not in favor of the planet’s health, and therefore, not in favor of us.

***