EU agency says 2024 to be the warmest year on record, and further updates

For PropertyGuru’s news roundup, the European Union’s (EU) climate change agency said 2024 is on track to be the planet’s warmest year on record. In other reports, Cambodia’s Minister of Environment has warned that human activities are contributing to climate change, resulting in more frequent and severe weather, including heatwaves, heavy rainfall, and droughts. Lastly, the Philippine government launched a flagship housing project aimed at providing 6 million affordably-priced homes and lower monthly amortization costs through various subsidies for Filipino workers.

EU agency: 2024 to be the warmest year on record

The European Union’s (EU) climate change agency on 7th November said 2024 is on track to be the planet’s warmest year on record, hitting a new milestone in the globe’s escalating climate crisis. “It is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record. The average temperature anomaly for the rest of 2024 would have to drop to almost zero for 2024 to not be the warmest year,” the Copernicus Climate Change Service said in a statement reported by PNA.

It said the global average temperature for the past 12 months (November 2023 – October 2024) was 0.74C above the 1991-2020 average, and an estimated 1.62C degrees above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial average. More specifically for Europe, according to the agency, temperatures were above average over almost all of the continent.

Outside Europe, temperatures were most above average over northern Canada, and well above average over the central and western United States, northern Tibet, Japan, and Australia.

On the other hand, temperatures were most notably below average over central Greenland and Iceland.

Cambodian Minister: Mankind worsening climate change, action needed

Cambodia’s Minister of Environment, Eang Sophalleth, has warned that human activities are contributing to climate change, which is resulting in more frequent and severe weather, including heatwaves, heavy rainfall and droughts.

He shared his statement as he addressed the Cambodia Climate Change Forum 2024 (CCCF24), which took place in Preah Sihanouk province’s Sihanoukville from October 24 to 25, according to the Ministry of Environment.

The forum, organised by the ministry, in cooperation with the Mekong Future Initiative (MFI), has attracted more than 300 participants, including senior government officials, diplomats, civil servants, development partners, climate experts, private sector representatives, civil society organisations and both national and international guests.

“Therefore, at the global level, what we must do is implement measures for mitigation and adaptation, build the resilience of vulnerable communities to the impacts of climate change and commit to the USD100 billion climate finance target to support developing countries,” added Sophalleth, who also chairs the National Council for Sustainable Development.

According to The Phnom Penh Post, the minister noted that the meeting reflects the strong cooperation and solidarity between the ministry, public and private sectors, and development partners, demonstrating Cambodia’s commitment to addressing climate change, which is a global challenge. “Cambodia is highly vulnerable to climate change, and the rise in temperature is expected to reduce productivity in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, as well as in many other sectors across the country,” he emphasised.

Collective initiatives to build more homes for Filipinos

Affordable and decent housing is a right that every Filipino has as guaranteed by the 1987 Philippine Constitution. However, the Philippines is currently facing a severe housing crisis that, if left unaddressed, can leave millions of its citizens homeless or living in dangerous areas such as riverbanks, steep slopes, and even cemeteries, as reported in BusinessWorld.

In 2021, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution declaring a housing crisis in the country and urging the Executive department to accelerate housing production. At the time, 4.5 million people were homeless or living in informal settlements in the country with more than 3 million of those residing in Metro Manila.

To address this housing dilemma, the government launched a flagship housing project aimed at providing 6 million affordably-priced homes and lower monthly amortization costs through various subsidies for Filipino workers who are members of the Pag-IBIG Fund. The Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program currently has at least 45 projects in various stages of construction around the country while another 200 memoranda of understanding have been signed with various local government units (LGUs).

“Our housing agenda aims to ensure that all Filipino workers have the means to accessible and affordable housing opportunities. Through the subsidies extended to beneficiaries of the 4PH program, prices of homes and monthly amortization costs will be significantly reduced,” Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) Secretary Jose Rizalino L. Acuzar was quoted as saying in a press release by the Presidential Communications Office.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].