MANILA, 19 November 2022 — The 15th Annual Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week (CCC Week 2022) kicked off Saturday with the planting of 200 Narra, Dao, and Sablot seedlings at the La Mesa Nature Reserve by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and partner agencies and organizations, including indigenous peoples and the youth.
 
Joining the tree planting activity were officials and representatives from Aboitiz Equity Ventures, ARISE, Conservation International, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Dumagat Community, Energy Development Corporation, FirstGen, Maynilad, Miriam College, and student leaders from Lagro National High School. Also present were representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Nestle Philippines, Net Zero Carbon Alliance, Professional Regulation Commission, Rotary Club of Pasig, and Zonta International.
 
The tree planting and growing activity emphasizes this year’s CCC Week theme, “Sama-samang Tumutugon sa Hamon ng Nagbabagong Klima” on the need to work together as one nation, one society and one world to further develop and improve the country’s greenhouse gas sinks and reservoirs through nature-based solutions.
 
The activity likewise underscored the continuing need to further promote the growth of Philippine forests, watersheds and protected areas as key climate change actions for the Philippines’ sustainable development.
 
Underscoring the value of multi-stakeholder approach as well as personal commitment toward climate change action success, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert Borje emphasized, “Ang hamon natin ngayon sa ating lahat, sana ay gawin natin itong regular na aktibidad, kasama ng inyong mga kaibigan, ng inyong mga pamilya, ng inyong organisasyon, para makamit natin ang ating obhetibo.”
 
“On the part of the Climate Change Commission, we remain committed to strengthen the policy framework and the partnerships that we have, including not just government, but also with CSOs, the private sectors, the NGOs, the youth sector, and the media,” said VCED Borje.
 
CCC Commissioner Rachel Herrera likewise highlighted that the activity also recognizes the importance of the whole-of-society approach in addressing the climate crisis.
 
The event is part of the series of reforestation initiatives under the Carbon Neutral Program (CNP) Convergence formalized in June this year with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PRC, and Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI). It was conceptualized based on the Philippines’ commitment in its Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.
 
It also supports existing national government institutions’ programs for ecological and environmental stability aligned with the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).
 
The tree planting and growing activity for CCC Week 2022 likewise builds on the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on environmental protection as Philippine government policy and inter-generational responsibility to uphold the Filipino’s right to a balanced and healthful ecology, including future generations.
 
In September this year, President Marcos celebrated his birthday with a tree planting and growing event in San Mateo, Rizal, and stated that “Itong ating ginagawa ngayong araw na ito ay isa sa mga hakbang na maaari nating gawin upang tulungan at patibayin ang ating kalikasan, alagaan ang ating kalikasan para (ay) tayo naman ay meron tayong imamana sa mga anak natin, sa mga susunod sa atin na Pilipino.”
 
The CCC Week is held annually every November 19th to 25th, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1667, s. 2008, to raise the awareness of Filipinos on the worsening impacts of climate change, and to secure the collective cooperation of private and public sectors at all levels in finding solutions to this concern.
 
For more information about the upcoming tree planting activities of the Climate Change Commission, and other CCC Week activities, visit the CCC’s social media pages at @cccphl.