Statement of three-term Senator and Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda on Europe floods July 16, 2021
July 16, 2021My thoughts and prayers to our brothers and sisters in Western Europe where record rainfall caused rivers to overflow, resulting in devastating floods and leaving at least 90 dead, more than 1,300 missing, and buildings collapsed.
This is a harsh reminder of the state of global climate crisis we are in. No country is absolved from its wrath. Record rains, hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, and wildfires will continue to ravage as global warming levels also continue to rise.
Our adaptation actions to build resilience from these impacts must also reach new heights. But as mitigation is the best form of adaptation, nations must take deep cuts to industries and sectors’ carbon emissions to rein in runaway global warming and mitigate climate change.
As nations prepare to reconvene in the UN Climate Conference this November, may this compel our world leaders to take bolder decisions and actions—especially in meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to below 1.5C and mobilize at least US$500B worth of climate finance by 2025 for developing countries.