Legarda Hopeful Summit of Consciences in Paris Will Help Strengthen Climate Deal

Senator Loren Legarda today said she is hopeful that the Summit of the Consciences for the Climate in Paris, France could greatly contribute to a successful climate change negotiations in December.

Legarda, a panelist speaker at the Summit that will be convened by French President Francois Hollande, said that this gathering of religious, political and environmental leaders will engage participants to reflect on their commitment to protect the planet.

“I hope that the reflections we make in this Summit would influence leaders at the climate change conference in December to act with urgency towards an ambitious and legally binding climate deal to limit global warming below 2°C,” she said.

Legarda, the United Nations Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, said that nations must act against the climate crisis to preserve the planet as a sustainable and livable place, emphasizing the responsibility of the present generation “to ensure that the future generations will have the benefits of a balanced and healthful ecology. Inter-generational responsibility needs to move from being an idea to a plan of concrete and urgent action.”

The Summit of the Consciences organized by the French government and to be held on July 21, 2015, will be a highlight of the global mobilization in preparation for the 21^st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), which will also be held in Paris, France in December this year.

The Summit will open with messages from French President Hollande, Irish President Michael Higgins, Prince Albert of Monaco, and Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

For the Fourth Plenary: Inspiring the World to care—igniting the will to act for the climate, Legarda is a panelist speaker along with Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and Special Envoy for Climate Change of the UN Secretary-General; Nigel Savage, President of HAZON; Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Oulemas League; Omar Abdi, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF; Masami Saionji, President of The World Peace Prayer Society; and Dr. Rajwant Singh of EcoSikh.

Live video feed of the Summit is available at this website: http://www.arcworld.org/projects.asp?projectID=664. Senator Legarda’s plenary session will start at 11:00 p.m., PHL time (5:00 p.m. in France).