Senator Loren Legarda encouraged everyone to do acts that would help save the planet not only during Earth Day but every day.
On April 22, the world observed Earth Day as a reminder of man’s responsibility to take care of the environment.
“Mother Earth is giving so much to us every day-the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe. What have we given in return? It is not enough that we join the world in observing Earth Day. What we must do is to take care of our planet every day,” said Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change and UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience.
“Unplug gadgets and unused appliances, plant trees, segregate garbage, put up a rainwater collector in your home, share your eco-friendly practices in social media or talk about it among your family and peers-these are just five simple practices we can start with and there are many more. If we all do eco-friendly acts every day, if we all embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle, we can address climate change,” she added.
On April 21, Legarda, along with more than 30 individuals and groups, was recognized by the Climate Reality Project Philippines for outstanding leadership in helping address climate change.
The Senator was bestowed the Luntiang Kapawa Award for her “indefatigable leadership in bringing up the level of climate conversation and action in governance.” Kapawa is Hiligaynon word for light.
Legarda has authored laws on environmental governance like the Clean Air Act, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund Law and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, among many other initiatives. She was also instrumental in ensuring the Philippines’ accession to the Paris Agreement-from explaining to the Cabinet members its importance to the Philippines, to shepherding the immediate and unanimous concurrence of the Senate in the President’s accession to the treaty.
“The individuals and groups recognized by the Climate Reality Project prove that we can take action against climate change either through individual or community efforts. They prove that we can all work, in our own and simple ways, to help resuscitate our ailing environment,” she said.
Earth Day 2017 is historic for the Philippines as the Paris Agreement officially takes effect in the country on the said day.
“As Party to the Agreement, we can influence the decisions on how the accord will be implemented and we maintain our leadership role in the international climate talks and advocacy,” said Legarda.
“Even if we are a nation vulnerable to climate change impacts, we can show the world that we are capable of action, that we will use our vulnerability as our motivation towards sustainability,” Legarda concluded.