Legarda: 1.5°C Global Warming Limit Crucial for Vulnerable PHL

Senator Loren Legarda today stressed on the importance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius especially for a vulnerable country like the Philippines.

“Our world today faces an unprecedented challenge in this era of climate change: The challenge to survive and thrive despite the dangers the changing climate brings. The challenge to transform our societies towards a green economy and for a sustainable future,” said Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience and UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion.

“The latest science tells us that humanity must act faster and bolder if we are to stop the runaway global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial benchmark, the goal the community of nations had agreed to pursue with the Paris Agreement,” she added.

Legarda said that the Philippines has championed this goal because it is a matter of life and death for us, as the archipelagic nation most visited by typhoons, that increasingly become stronger and more destructive.

“As a people, we will continue to be the voice of the climate vulnerable in global climate talks. Time is of the essence in climate action. We cannot afford to wait. The time is now to act local and build the resilience of our communities to climate change,” she stressed.

The Senator added that as a vulnerable nation, the Philippines shall adapt, but in so doing it shall reap the benefits of taking the road towards a low carbon and climate-resilient development.

“Let’s make our communities resilient.  Let’s invest more on climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction. Let’s know, understand and communicate the climate and disaster risk in our midst and endeavor to reduce them along with poverty. Let’s strengthen our multi-hazard early warning system and be more prepared to respond to impending impacts of natural hazards.”

“Let’s promote the integrity of our ecosystems: preserve our biodiversity, and grow more mangroves that protect our coastal communities. Let’s harvest and harness our rains for water sufficiency, set up rooftop gardens and seed banks, build roadside ditches, and use indigenous knowledge. Let’s transition to renewable energy and keep away from fossil fuels.”

“We all need to keep this in mind: We may be vulnerable, but we are not incapable of taking action. We will translate our vulnerability as an opportunity to make our communities safe, healthy, liveable, resilient and sustainable. We can all do this together — and make a difference in the life of our people and the future of our nation,” Legarda concluded.