Legarda calls for more aggressive climate action on 10th Year of ‘An Inconvenient Truth’

 

Senator Loren Legarda renewed her call for more aggressive action to address the climate crisis during the 10^th anniversary of An Inconvenient Truth, the documentary film on Former US Vice President Al Gore’s campaign to educate people about global warming.

Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, was the keynote speaker at the An Inconvenient Truth anniversary celebration organized by The Climate Reality Project Philippines in Cebu City.

“A lot has changed since that year when An Inconvenient Truth was launched, especially on how we perceive the climate change phenomenon. People now have a better understanding of the climate crisis and how it is linked to our survival. An Inconvenient Truth continues to ignite climate action,” she said.

“The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which was signed by 175 countries, including the Philippines, proves that we now realize the urgency of taking action to address climate change and mitigate its impacts. But these realization and commitments must be translated into concrete action, mainly through the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions,” she added.

Legarda said that for the Philippines, climate action means achieving its goal of 70% greenhouse gas emissions reduction as stated in its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

She stressed that the government must draw sectoral roadmaps that will lead to the achievement of its INDCs, especially in energy, transport, forestry and agriculture.

“We certainly cannot go business as usual. In the energy sector, there should be a good energy mix where there is a bias for renewables,” Legarda said.

“There is no reason to hesitate or delay action on a challenge so compelling, on a threat to humanity so clear and present.  For every second that ticks away is but a second closer to the next calamity. We must lead the way towards meaningful change for our children and grandchildren, for all of humanity, for all species in the world, and for Mother Earth,” Legarda said.