Legarda lauds launch of Green Building Code

June 29, 2015

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Loren Legarda lauded the launch of the new Green Building Code as part of government’s long-term transition to a low-carbon economy and its efforts to help slowdown the impact of global warming in the country.

Legarda noted green buildings play a huge role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are largely responsible for global warming.

Speaking at “Green Breakthroughs 2015” organized by the Philippine Green Building Initiative together with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other aid agencies at the official launch of the Green Building Code last Thursday, Legarda stressed the Code would be an important tool to strengthen resilience to natural hazards and improve our sustainable development strategies from the national down to the local level.

“We need to move away from business as usual in order to build a sustainable society. A paradigm shift to a sustainable energy system requires close, cross-sector collaboration – between governments, businesses and civil society,” she said.

Citing a report from the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Legarda said people in the Asia Pacific Region are more likely to be affected by natural hazards than those in Africa, Europe and North America.

“The Philippines is a minor emitter but even as we are taking steps to demand the world’s biggest polluters to reduce their carbon usage for the sake of the planet, we cannot just wait for other parties to turn their commitment into action,” she said.

“We need to take care of our own backyard so to speak, and in this case we need to cut our carbon emissions, improve our environment and create sustainable communities, if we build green,” said Legarda, United Nations Champion for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

Legarda said that building green should be complemented with a low-carbon lifestyle, which means a shift to indigenous and renewable energy sources to economize on energy consumption; energy-efficient transport modes like walking, biking and taking public transport; use of natural light and wind flow in house design; and rainwater catchment systems.

Source: Philstar