Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T07:05:16.820Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan and Climate Justice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2014

Seiji Yamada  and
Absalon Galat
Seiji Yamada*
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, Hawaii
Absalon Galat
Affiliation:
Department of Family Medicine, Harbor—University of California Los Angeles, California
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Seiji Yamada, MD, MPH, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Hawai‘i John A. Burns School of Medicine, 651 Ilalo St, Honolulu, HI 96813 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The extreme weather events that the world is experiencing are consistent with the effects of anthropogenic climate change. The western North Pacific is the area of the world with the most intense tropical cyclones. Increased sea surface temperatures directly contribute to the wind speed of storms. The 2013 Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan was the strongest tropical cyclone in recorded history to make landfall—causing more than 6000 deaths in the Philippines, mostly from storm surge. This event represents a climate injustice. On one hand, disaster prevention and preparedness were inadequate for impoverished populations in the Philippines who lived in poorly constructed housing. While the international community assisted with the response, recovery was hampered by inadequate and inequitable investment. On the other hand, climate change has been driven by the carbon emissions of industrialized states. Those who call for climate justice argue for more robust measures to control carbon emissions responsible for climate change and worsening global health security. As global citizens and as health professionals, we examine the implications for all of us as moral actors. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-4)

Keywords

climate changetropical stormvulnerable populationscommunication
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 432 - 435
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Maplecroft Global Risk Analytics Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas 2014. Bath, United Kingdom; October 30, 2013. http://maplecroft.com/portfolio/new-analysis/2013/10/30/31-global-economic-output-forecast-face-high-or-extreme-climate-change-risks-2025-maplecroft-risk-atlas/ Google Scholar
2. Shah, A. Climate justice and equity. Global Issues website; January 8, 2012. http://www.globalissues.org/article/231/climate-justice-and-equity Google Scholar
3. Boden, T, Andres, R. Ranking of the world's countries by 2010 total CO2 emissions. Carbon Dioxide Information Center website. http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/top2010.tot Google Scholar
4. Boden, T, Andres, R. Ranking of the world's countries by 2010 per capita fossil-fuel CO2 emission rates. Carbon Dioxide Information Center website. http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/emis/top2010.cap Google Scholar
5. What is climate justice? Mobilization for Climate Justice website. http://www.actforclimatejustice.org/about/what-is-climate-justice/ Google Scholar
6. Horton, R, Beaglehole, R, Bonita, R, Raeburn, J, McKee, M, Wall, S From public to planetary health: a manifesto. Lancet. 2014;383:847.Google Scholar
7. Burkle, FM, Redmond, AD, McArdle, DF. An authority for crisis coordination and accountability. Lancet. 2012;379:2223-2225.Google Scholar
8. The power of treaties. Nature. 2013;501(7465):5.Google Scholar
9. Helmer, M, Hilhorst, D. Natural disasters and climate change. Disasters. 2006;30:1-4.Google Scholar
10. Peterson, TC, Hoerling, MP, Stott, PA, Herring, SC Eds. Explaining Extreme Events of 2012 from a Climate Perspective. Bull Am Meteor Soc. 2013;94(9):S1-S94.Google Scholar
11. WMO annual climate statement highlights extreme events [press release No. 985]. World Meteorological Organization website; March 24, 2014. https://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_985_en.html Google Scholar
12. Emanuel, KA. Downscaling CMIP5 climate models shows increased tropical cyclone activity over the 21st century. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110(30):12219-12224.Google Scholar
13. Woodruff, JD, Irish, JL, Camargo, SJ. Coastal flooding by tropical cyclones and sea-level rise. Nature. 2013;504:44-52.Google Scholar
14. Masters, J. Super Typhoon Haiyan: strongest landfalling tropical cyclone on record. Weather Underground website; November 7, 2013. http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=2573. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
15. van Ormondt, M. Storm surge of Super Typhoon Haiyan making landfall. Youtube; November 10, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SH5fhGYCm0. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
16. Evidence of destruction in Tacloban, Philippines. NASA website; November 20, 2013. http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/haiyan-northwestern-pacific-ocean/#.Ur9tvPRDt8E. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
17. Republic of the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. NDRRC update: effects of Typhoon “YOLANDA” (HAIYAN). March 14, 2014. SitRep No. 107. http://www.ndrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/1125/Update%20Yolanda%20Sitrep%20107.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2014.Google Scholar
18. Maplecroft Global Risk Analytics. Natural Hazards Risk Atlas 2014. Bath, United Kingdom; February 19, 2014. http://maplecroft.com/portfolio/new-analysis/2014/02/19/natural-hazards-risk-atlas-2014/. Accessed March 24, 2014.Google Scholar
19. Severe inequality in the Philippines. IBON Foundation website; July 24, 2013. http://www.ibon.org/includes/resources/IBON%202013%200725%20inequality.png. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
20. Ibon Foundation Disasters and the dire state of economic, socio-cultural rights in the Philippines. Ibon Foundation website; December 10, 2013. http://www.ibon.org/ibon_features.php?id=357. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
21. Lecompte, E, Goodman, A. How can the Philippines recover from Typhoon Haiyan while forced to pay off ex-dictator’s old debt? Democracy Now! website; December 27, 2013. http://www.democracynow.org/2013/12/27/how_can_the_philippines_recover_from. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
22. Typhoon Haiyan and the Philippines The Economist. November 16, 2013. http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21589916-one-strongest-storms-ever-recorded-has-devastated-parts-philippines-and-relief. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
23. Borenstein, S. Experts: Man, nature share typhoon tragedy blame. November 11, 2013. AP website; November 11, 2013. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/experts-man-nature-share-typhoon-tragedy-blame. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
24. Burkle, FM. Conversations in disaster medicine and public health: the profession. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2014;8(1):5-11.Google Scholar
25. Lofts, K. Mainstreaming climate resilience into government: the Philippines’ Climate Change Act. Climate and Development Knowledge Network; July 2012. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Philippines-InsideStory_6pp_WEB3.pdf Google Scholar
26. Understanding adaptation planning: selected case studies in Nepal, Philippines and Vietnam, Adaptation Knowledge Platform. Bangkok, Thailand: Stockholm Environment Institute. Partner Report Series No. 9. http://static.weadapt.org/knowledge-base/files/1263/521efe3fb45benepal-philippines-vietnam-v6-for-web.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2014.Google Scholar
27. Sabillo, KA. In the know: what is people surge? Inquirer.net; February 25, 2014. http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/580604/in-the-know-what-is-people-surge. Accessed March 15, 2014.Google Scholar
28. Ericta, CN. Republic of the Philippines, Philippine Statistics Authority, National Statistical Coordination Board website; January 30, 2014. Philippine economy grew by 7.2 percent in 2013; 6.5 percent in Q4 2013. http://www.nscb.gov.ph/sna/2013/4th2013/2013qpr4.asp. Accessed March 15, 2014.Google Scholar
29. Bradsher, K. Land disputes slow recovery in Philippines. New York Times; December 13, 2013.Google Scholar
30. Tapang, G. People Surge: ‘No build zone’ to enrich elite. Manila Times; February 19, 2014. http://manilatimes.net/people-surge-no-build-zones-to-enrich-the-elite/76987/. Accessed March 9, 2014.Google Scholar
31. Perez, ML, Sajise, AJU, Ramirez, PJB, et al. Economic analysis of climate change adaptation strategies in selected coastal areas in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. Penang, Malaysia WorldFish; 2013. Project Report 2013-32.Google Scholar
32. Cash, R, Halder, S, Husain, M, et al. Reducing the health effect of natural hazards in Bangladesh. Lancet. 2013;382:2094-2103.Google Scholar
33. Freedman, A. Bangladesh’s example for a post-Nargis world. Washington Post; May 14, 2008. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2008/05/tropical_cyclone_nargis_which.html. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
34. Harris, G. As seas rise, millions cling to borrowed time and dying land. New York Times; March 28, 2014.Google Scholar
35. Saño, N, Goodman, A. On day 9 of fast, Filipino climate chief Yeb Saño demands rich nations pay up for global pollution. Democracy Now! Website; November 19, 2013.http://www.democracynow.org/2013/11/19/on_day_9_of_fast_filipino. Accessed February 9, 2014.Google Scholar
36. Kerry, J. Remarks on climate change. US Department of State website; February 16, 2014. http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/02/221704.htm. Accessed March 16, 2014.Google Scholar
37. Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction; 2007.Google Scholar
38. Burkle, FM. A manifesto for planetary health. Correspondence. Lancet. 2014;383:1459.Google Scholar
39. Klein, N. How science is telling us all to revolt. New Statesman; October 29, 2013. http://www.newstatesman.com/2013/10/science-says-revolt. Accessed March 26, 2014.Google Scholar
40. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Towards a post-2015 framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. http://www.preventionweb.net/posthfa/. Accessed March 15, 2014.Google Scholar