Legarda: Biden-Harris Victory a Win for Women and Climate

House Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda today welcomed the result of the 2020 USA national elections, expressing that the victory of climate advocates President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman vice president in US history, is a win for women and the climate cause.

“President-elect Joe Biden’s promise to rejoin the Paris Agreement and to invest in low-carbon technologies is pivotal in our collective goal of keeping the increase in global average temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. This is a climate goal that vulnerable developing countries such as the Philippines have long fought for in the name of climate justice,” Legarda said.

“I am also deeply delighted with the historic win of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as the first woman to hold this office in the USA. She has broken a global glass ceiling for all women, which will certainly have a tremendous ripple effect in inspiring women and young girls alike, most of whom are marginalized and oppressed, to speak up, lead, and take action. It’s a great day for America and the world,” Legarda added.

Legarda said that Biden’s earlier pronouncement of making the USA carbon neutral by year 2050 and to invest US$2 trillion over the next four years to accelerate clean energy in critical sectors is a welcome commitment from the country that has the historical accountability of contributing the most to greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, which has caused global warming and the climate crisis. She noted that this is a step up from his earlier pledge of $1.7 trillion over 10 years, with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions before 2050.

Legarda added that this commitment follows a series of similar carbon neutrality pronouncements from many high-emitting countries, such as China, Japan, South Korea, and the European Union, which further provide the impetus to keep the world on track with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement, while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Economic recovery that is resilient, climate-proof and sustainable is going mainstream. It is high time that we forge an even stronger partnership on climate action that will not only benefit our countries, but the entire world population as well. I am very hopeful that the Biden presidency will soon start making a difference in our mission to avert this global climate crisis. We must, however, continue to be vigilant and exact accountability from all heads of State on their promises,” Legarda added.

“The environment and climate cause and the women sector have much more allies now than at any time in history. Working for 30 years in these advocacies has been extremely challenging, but recent events give me so much more hope and determination to persevere and aspire for better conditions for my fellow women, vulnerable populations, and the future of our planet,” Legarda concluded.

Legarda is a UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience, UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, Commissioner in the Global Commission on Adaptation, and Climate Vulnerable Forum Ambassador for Parliaments. As a former Senator, she chaired the Senate Committees on Climate Change, Finance, and Foreign Relations.***