SENATOR Lorna Regina “Loren” B. Legarda on Thursday said the Philippine government must implement stronger climate resilience and long-term disaster preparedness policies.
In a statement, Ms. Legarda called on the government to implement four legal reforms addressing climate change: identify climate vulnerability through science-based instruments, expedite emergency funds with strong climate finance laws, support climate action in local government units, and accelerate low-carbon development.
To ensure these reforms are permanently implemented, Ms. Legarda said she will continue advocating for climate action bills she filed in the Senate. She mentioned two bills pending Senate approval.
These include Senate Bill (SB) No. 166, or the Low Carbon Economy Act, which establishes a carbon emissions trading system to achieve national climate targets; and SB No. 306, the Philippine Circular Economy Promotion Act, that creates a framework where resources are used, repaired, and recycled to eliminate waste.
She said warnings from the United Nations Environment Programme that global warming will exceed 1.5°C intensify the need for proactive climate change measures.
“Although the Philippines contributes only about 0.51% to global greenhouse gas emissions, the country is among those severely experiencing the damages caused by climate change,” she said. — Francessca S. Abalos