LEGAZPI CITY --– A Filipino member of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), who co-shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, has warned that developing countries like the Philippines are the most vulnerable to global warming because they lack the resources to cope with climate change.

        Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, country coordinator of the International Center for Research in Agroforestry in Los Baños, Laguna, and an IPCC panelist, made this warning in a speech delivered before the 38th Commencement Exercises of the Bicol University held last March 25 at the Albay Astrodome here.

        Lasco said that the IPCC, in its 2007 report, concludes that “there is an unequivocal evidence that human activities have already affected the world’s climate.”

        “The impact of climate change could be disastrous to natural system, human communities around the world. A warmer world could lead to extinction of plant and animal species, the spread of diseases and displacement of people in coastal areas as the sea level rises,” he said.

        Lasco further said that as a result of climate change, tropical hurricanes or typhoons as we call them, will become more intense or more destructive in disaster-prone areas like the Bicol region.

        “Climate change is also expected to derail our sustainable development efforts as it compounds socioeconomic and environmental problems,” he added.

        Citing scientific studies from the Millennium Ecosystem Report, Lasco said that from 2.5 billion to 3 billion people in the world live in conditions of water scarcity, limiting food production, health and economic development. About 800 million people live in areas without adequate supply of fresh water,” he revealed.

        At the same time, the Filipino scientist explained what is known as “the world is flat phenomenon” which refers to global communications through the Internet, computers and communications technology.

        “The implication is that through the Internet, Filipinos can be competitive globally,” Lasco said.

        He also warned that the exodus of Filipinos abroad to work could be disastrous to marriage if one of the spouses works abroad.

        “I appeal to you, young graduates, not to give up too easily on our country. I believe that the Filipino has the ability to compete in a flat world,” Lasco added.