MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is set to experience more hot days and fewer cold nights as global temperatures continue to rise, climate scientists projected. 

“The number of cold and cool nights is projected to decrease, while warm and hot days are shown to increase, and warm periods (or warm spells) are estimated to last longer,” according to a report published by the Philippine Climate Change Assessment (PhilCCA) Working Group in October. 

The Philippines has experienced a steady warming trend, with annual mean temperature rising by around 0.16 °Celsius per decade between 1951 and 2018, the report noted.

The country’s warming climate is a growing concern, with potential impacts on public health, agriculture, and water resources. 

Climate scientists found the rise in nighttime temperatures was more pronounced than daytime temperatures, especially from December to February—usually the coldest months in the Philippines. 

Urbanization has contributed to the warming trend in the country, especially in major cities, research also suggested. 

Multi-model projections indicate a potential temperature increase of 2.5 to 4.1 °C in the Philippines by 2100. A high-emissions scenario could lead to a 4.1 °C increase, while a lower-emissions scenario could limit warming to 2.5 °C.

Seasonal analyses also showed a slightly higher increase in mean temperature of about 1.3 to 2.2 °C during the hotter months of March to May. 

2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record, following a prolonged period of exceptionally high global mean temperatures, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported on the first day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. 

According to the WMO report, the global mean surface temperature from January to September 2024 was 1.54 °C above the pre-industrial average. The warming El Niño event has exacerbated the record-breaking heat. 

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) called on the Philippine government to ensure the safety of workers as temperatures continue to soar. Workers in sectors like agriculture, construction, transportation, and tourism are especially vulnerable to extreme heat.

“I don’t think labor advisories will be enough to address heat stress head on. We need more imagination like establishing heat stress insurance. We should support communities and enterprises in adapting to climate change,” said Julius Cainglet, vice president of FFW. 

Banner photo credit: Greenpeace Philippines