MANILA, 20 May 2020 – In the second episode of the online discussion series 'Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways' on the topic, 'Growing Your Own Food 101', Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda will feature the importance of growing your own food and urban gardens at home or with the community.  The second episode will be live streamed this Thursday, May 21, 10:00am, via Facebook Live [www.facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl]. Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar will be joining the online conversation to discuss the “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” which includes a revitalized urban agriculture and gulayan project. Sec. Dar will also share other initiatives of the DA to support those who wish to start their own backyard and community gardens. Other guests are Mr. Niccolo Aberasturi and Atty. Paula Aberasturi, founders of Down to Earth PH; Ms. Patis Tesoro, owner of PatisTito Garden Café & Permaculture Farm; Barangay Captain Sheryl Nolasco of Potrero, Malabon City, a model barangay for ecological solid waste management,  and Ms. Carol Malasig, Berlin based journalist and content writer of Almost Diplomatic blog, to also share basic steps to start food gardens, related technologies and techniques, and common challenges faced by the urban gardener. Deputy Speaker Legarda will discuss the features of House Bill No. 637 or the Food Forest Gardening Act of 2019, which she has authored in the House of Representatives to institutionalize the Philippine Food Forest Gardening Program. Under the bill, food forest gardening may be established in any parcel of land, public parks and spaces, unutilized and idle public land, community or common spaces of land developments, portions of rural farms, urban housing projects, idle parcels of land in schools, colleges and universities, and yards of households. As an online discussion to promote good health, environmental and climate-friendly, and sustainable practices, Stories for a Better Normal aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities to lead sustainable lives towards a healthier, safer, and much better normal than we used to have. This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission (CCC), with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, and Mother Earth Foundation. 

MANILA, 20 May 2020 – Para sa second episode ng online series na 'Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways' sa paksang, 'Growing Your Own Food 101', itatampok ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda ang kahalagahan ng pagtatanim ng sarili mong pagkain at ang pagkakaroon natin ng mga halamanang-lungsod o urban gardens sa ating mga tahanan o pamayanan.  Ang ikalawang episode ay mapapanood sa livestream ngayong Thursday, May 21, 10:00am sa Facebook Live [https://www.facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and https://www.facebook.com/CCCPhl]. Maka-kasama si Secretary William Dar ng Department of Agriculture (DA) online para pag-usapan ang “Plant, Plant, Plant Program” kung saan kasama ang mas pinabuti at pinalakas na programang urban agriculture at gulayan project. Ibabahagi din ng kalihim ang iba pang mga simulain ng DA para suportahan ang sinumang may gustong magtanim sa kanilang mga sariling bakuran o lote sa barangay bilang 'community food gardens'. Ang iba pang mga panauhin ay sina Niccolo Aberasturi, founder ng Down to Earth PH; si Patis Tesoro, may-ari ng PatisTito Garden Café & Permaculture Farm; si Barangay Captain Sheryl Nolasco mula sa Barangay Potrero, Lungsod ng Malabon, isang modeong barangay para sa ecological solid waste management,  at si Carol Malasig, isang Berlin-based journalist at content writer ng Almost Diplomatic blog, upang magbahagi din ng mga basic steps para makapag-simula tayo ng ating mga food gardens, kasama ang iba pang mga teknolohiya, at mga hamon na hinaharap ng isang urban gardener. Tatalakayin ni Deputy Speaker Legarda ang mga nilalaman ng House Bill No. 637 o ang Food Forest Gardening Act ng taong 2019, na syang may-akda sa Kongreso. Layon nitong maipatupad ang Philippine Food Forest Gardening Program. Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, ang food forest gardening ay maaaring maitayo sa anumang lote, pampublikong parke, mga unutilized o idle public land, community o common spaces ng land developments, parte ng rural farms, urban housing projects, parte ng lupa sa mga paaaralan, mga dalubhasaan at mga pamantasan, at mga harapan ng mga kabahayan. Bilang isang online discussion na nakapagsusulong ng magandang kalusugan at climate-friendly, sustainable practices, ang Stories for a Better Normal ay naglalayong baguhin ang kaisipan ng mga mamamayan, pamilya, at mga pamayanan na isulong na mamuhay-sustainable tungo sa isang mas-malusog, mas-ligtas, at isang mas-mabuti at mas-maayos na "normal" kaysa dati. Ang online discussion ay inorganisa ni Deputy Speaker Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC), at sinusuportahan ng Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, at Mother Earth Foundation.

Thursday, 21 May 2020 | 10:00 AM The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of food supply chains that serve the food and nutritional security of Filipinos. Growing food at home and in communities is one way to secure and ensure a steady supply of safe and nutritious food even in the most challenging of times. Catch Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with guest experts in a morning conversation on Thursday, 21 May 2020 at 10:00 AM, and learn the basics of urban or backyard farming as they give useful practical advice for starting an urban garden. This knowledge-for-action webinar is brought to you by the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and the Climate Change Commission.

May 14, 2020 - To inspire individuals, households, and communities to adopt sustainable practices for a better normal in light of the pandemic and climate crisis, Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda held her first online discussion of the series “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” a virtual conversation on COVID-19 and the climate emergency. The series is a partnership with the Climate Change Commission (CCC), with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project-Philippines, and Mother Earth Foundation. In the first episode broadcast earlier today via Facebook Live, Legarda, together with environmental lawyer Ipat Luna, Sonia Mendoza of Mother Earth Foundation, and Red Constantino of ICSC, shared environment and climate-friendly ways to implement at home and in communities, such as installing ecological comfort rooms, conducting backyard farming and edible gardens, implementing ecological solid waste management, and promoting bike sharing for health workers and frontline personnel. “Everyone can lead sustainable lives at home. We can be climate heroes and ecological warriors of our own lives and in our homes, communities, and barangays. Let us teach and inspire our children to be better citizens of our country and the planet,” said Legarda, who authored several landmark laws for the environment and climate change such as the Clean Air Act, Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Legarda also encouraged everyone to promote safety and sustainability within their households and communities through backyard gardening, waste segregation, recycling, and upcycling. Mendoza mentioned two zero-waste model communities, Brgy. Potrero in Malabon City and Tacloban City, with a high segregation-at-source compliance rate and waste diversion rate, as she emphasized the importance of first having the right mindset. “Unang-una, yung pagpapalit ng kanilang kaisipan, na manggagaling sa puso nila ang pangangalaga sa ating Mother Earth. Kapag zero waste ay walang aksaya. Conserve resources. Walang natitira sa plato. Ubusin ang tubig sa baso. Patayin ang ilaw ‘pag hindi kailangan. Gumamit ng baso sa pag-sipilyo ng ngipin. ‘Wag paghalu-haluin ang mga basura. Simpleng bagay na pwedeng gawin araw-araw,” said Mendoza. Constantino also shared the ICSC’s campaign of promoting bike sharing and donation drives to help health workers and other frontliners to get to work. “Sa local governments kinakailangan may protected, dedicated bike lanes because, while mass transport is going to be critical to long-term development, in a situation where we have to distance ourselves, which means less seats to occupy, at mas mahaba na pila sa MRT/LRT at sa mga bus at jeep, napakahalaga ng bisikleta. If we have bike lanes that are protected, dedicated, and enforced, mas marami pong magbibisikleta,” said Constantino. For environmental lawyer Atty. Ipat Luna, more planting of seeds, installation of proper sewerage systems, and the adoption of a circular economy, are key to eliminate wasteful practices and promote continuous use of resources. “Pakinabangan natin ‘yung mga natutunan natin habang nandito tayo sa mga bahay-bahay natin. Natutunan natin ang konsepto ng oras, na palagi tayo dating nagmamadali. Pero hindi pala mahalaga ang pinagmamadalian. Huwag tayo bumalik sa dati nating nakaugalian. Maging malikhain tayo sa ating mga plano at aksyon,” said Atty. Luna. As an online discussion to promote good health, environmental and climate-friendly, and sustainable practices, Stories for a Better Normal aims to change the mindset of individuals and families to lead sustainable lives towards a healthier, safer, and much better normal than we used to have. “Hindi pwedeng bumalik sa dati, kasi kung bumalik sa dati, para nating binalewala ang sakripisyo ng frontliners, ang buhay ng lahat na namatay na doktor at pasyente ng COVID sa Pilipinas at sa buong mundo. Let’s make it worthwhile, let’s show appreciation and gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives and continue to sacrifice now in fighting the war outside of our homes, by learning the lessons and not going back to the previous normal,” Legarda stressed. “Magkakabit ang COVID at ang pagbabagong klima. They are inextricably linked, because even after COVID there could be many more infectious diseases. If we will follow our laws on the environment, climate change, health, and sanitation, life will be better,” Legarda concluded.

Thursday, 14 May 2020 | 10:00-10:30 AM The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our daily lives and ushered a new normal for all. Know the challenges in promoting the health of people and planet and the practical ways the Filipino family and community could survive and thrive amid the crisis. Catch Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda with guest experts in a morning conversation on this subject on Facebook Live, Thursday, 14 May 2020 | 10:00-10:30 AM. This knowledge-for-action webinar is brought to you by the Office of Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda and the Climate Change Commission.

MANILA 13 May 2020 – Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda announced today the launch of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” an online conversation that will reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis. The series, a partnership with the Climate Change Commission (CCC), will delve into ways on how Filipino families and communities can prepare for a better normal and lead sustainable lives in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first episode will be on May 14, Thursday, at 10:00 a.m., featuring environmental lawyer Atty. Ipat Luna, Sonia Mendoza of the Mother Earth Foundation, and Red Constantino of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC). Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways will be streamed via Facebook live [https://www.facebook.com/conglorenlegarda and https://www.facebook.com/CCCPhl], and on the Facebook accounts of Mother Earth Foundation and ICSC.

MANILA 7 MAY 2020 – In observance of the Month of the Ocean this May, House Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda renewed her call for authorities and citizens to help in the sustainable management and conservation of marine life and resources to protect them from unsustainable human activities. “We rely so much on our oceans for our food, livelihood, and other daily needs, but we have been neglecting our ocean’s health. Plastic pollution, overfishing, waste dumping, oil spills, dynamite fishing, and other destructive human practices are killing the life in our oceans. I once again urge our authorities to enforce our laws to save our marine biodiversity, ecosystems, and habitats from further destruction,” Legarda said. Legarda, who authored the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, said that proper waste management practices, including the segregation of garbage at source and segregated transportation, processing, treatment, and proper disposal of solid waste, should be implemented by all local governments and households to prevent trash from going into our seas. She also mentioned that she also filed House Bill No. 635, which seeks to regulate the manufacturing, importation, and use of single-use plastic products, as well as provide penalties, levies, and incentives for industries, business enterprises, and consumers. Legarda also said that this year’s theme for Ocean’s Month is “Para sa Tao: Protected Areas for a Protected Future,” which aims to provide deeper appreciation and understanding on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and their environmental, social, and cultural benefits to the people. A Protected Area is defined as “portions of land and/or water set aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human exploitation.” Of the 244 Protected Areas in the Philippines, 35 are Marine Protected Areas. Legarda, who is the principal author of Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 (ENIPAS), also underscored the importance of Protected Areas in ensuring food security in the country. “This Month of the Ocean, may we all work together to bring our oceans and marine life back to their pristine state. Let us correct our ways and adopt responsible fishing practices that support ecological balance. Let us do our part in ensuring our future generations can also benefit from the resources we currently enjoy from our oceans,” Legarda concluded.

MANILA, 07 May 2020 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in its adoption of a Sustainable Financial Framework through Circular No. 1085 issued on April 29, 2020. The Sustainable Financial Framework urges banks to embed sustainability principles, including those covering environmental and social risk areas, in their corporate governance framework, risk management systems, and strategic objectives consistent with their size, risk profile and complexity of operations, according to Monetary Board Resolution No. 415 dated 19 March 2020. “Circular No. 1085 s. 2020 on the Sustainable Finance Framework is a landmark achievement by the BSP in supporting the green economy which is the way of the future. This policy framework is the most awaited signal by the banks to seriously consider embedding sustainability principles in their corporate DNA. As the “bank of banks”, the BSP is in the best position to take the lead in greening the financial sector by tracking the same path it did in strengthening the corporate governance of banks. Congratulations to the BSP for its proactive stance in including environmental and social initiatives in its sustainable development agenda,” the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) said in a statement. Climate change and other environmental and social risks could pose a threat to financial stability considering their significant and protracted implications on the operations and financial interests of banks. These risks not only directly affect banks but also their clientele and stakeholders, such as households, businesses, and other financial institutions. The BSP recognizes the critical role of the financial industry in pursuing sustainable and resilient growth by enabling environmentally and social responsible business decisions consistent with the aspirations set out for every Filipino community under the Philippine Development Plan. The banks shall be given a period of three years to fully comply with the Transitory Provisions, adopting a transition plan with specific timelines to implement the board-approved strategies and policies integrating sustainability principles into their corporate governance and risk management frameworks, as well as in their strategic objectives and operations. Banks should provide their board-approved transition plan upon request of the BSP starting six months from the effectivity of the Circular. The World Wild Fund for Nature-Philippines also expressed their support to the new framework. “This aligns the country’s regulatory framework with that of more advanced counties in ASEAN such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. With growing investor interest in green and sustainability-linked bonds in the ASEAN, the country’s banking system is well positioned to tap into this growing segment and is a step forward to financing the country’s SDGs and climate risk mitigation and adaptation projects,” said Mr. Edgardo Tongson, Chief of Party for Sustainable Finance. The CCC, in its continuing efforts to mainstream green financing within the banking sectors, lauds the Sustainable Finance Framework as a pathway toward increased mobilization of climate finance across the country.

MANILA 6 MAY 2020 – House Deputy Speaker and Antique Congresswoman Loren Legarda today commended and expressed support to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in promulgating the Sustainable Finance Framework, contained in BSP Circular No. 1085, s. 2020, stating that the framework will help advance the country’s growth towards a greener and more sustainable development path. The Circular was issued following approval by the Monetary Board (through Resolution No. 415, March 19, 2020) of a sustainable finance policy framework that sets out expectations on the integration of sustainability principles, including those covering environmental and social (E&S) risks, in banks’ corporate governance and risk management frameworks, as well as in their strategic objectives and operations. “I have long expressed the view that despite the Philippines being a highly vulnerable country to climate change, we have yet to fully unlock our massive potential for green investments. The BSP’s circular on the Sustainable Finance Framework is a welcome policy direction for our banks and financial institutions to enshrine sustainability within their systems of governance and operations,” said Legarda, who authored the Renewable Energy Act, Climate Change Act, and the People’s Survival Fund Act. "As our country and the whole world slowly reopen the economy from closures to the COVID-19 pandemic through financial stimulus packages, we hope that the new policy will lead to the financing of more investments on renewable energy, environmental protection, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and other low carbon and sustainable initiatives,” Legarda added. With the issuance of the Circular, the Sustainable Finance Framework is added in the Manual of Regulations for Banks (MORB). It declares as a policy that the BSP is “cognizant that climate change and other environmental and social risks could pose financial stability concerns” and that “physical and transition risks arising from climate change could result in significant societal, economic and financial risks affecting the banks and their stakeholders.” It also recognizes the critical role of the financial industry in pursuing sustainable and resilient growth by enabling environmentally and socially responsible business decisions consistent with the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The framework shall be applied to all banks, while branches of foreign banks may adopt relevant policies and strategies of their head office that are consistent with the Circular. Legarda said that the Sustainable Finance Framework will complement existing efforts to enhance the country's resilience against climate impacts through climate finance access. Legarda, as Member of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board, said that the Philippines’ very first country proposal to the GCF secured approval last year of a P500-million grant for multi-hazard impact-based forecasting and early warning systems. This was followed by the country’s inclusion in a multi-country proposal to generate private sector investments on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Three readiness and preparatory support programs worth almost $1.7 million are also underway to enhance the capacities of the Land Bank of the Philippines as accredited entity and other stakeholders involved in securing climate finance once national approval processes are completed. She added that the Climate Change Commission (CCC), as the National Designated Authority to the GCF, has been instrumental in facilitating climate finance access, but should now also work closely with the Bangko Sentral to help our banks and financial institutions adopt the framework and transform our economy.   “Amid this COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis, as the world clamors for a healthier planet as the new normal, I remain optimistic that these efforts and many more can sustain our gains towards resilience,” Legarda concluded.

MANILA, 5 May 2020 – In celebration of May as the Month of the Ocean, the Climate Change Commission renewed calls for greater cooperation in protecting the environment to evade pandemics linked to wildlife, and arrest the worsening state of the global climate emergency.  With the theme, PAra sa Tao: Protected Areas for a Protected Future, the climate body said that this month-long observance is an opportune time to intensify our country’s campaign against ocean pollution, illegal wildlife trade, and other unsustainable human activities that harm the natural environment and cause ecosystems decline. Citing the review, Rebuilding Marine Life which highlighted that oceans can be restored by 2050, the CCC encouraged a major ramp-up of efforts to address environmental issues. Researchers found that in spite of marine biodiversity losses during the 20th century, losses have slowed and seen a resurgence during the 21st century due to a series of successful interventions. The review cited the increasing population of the nearly extinct humpback whales following the end of commercial hunting in the southwest Atlantic. This positive outcome could last and "substantial recovery" could be achieved within two to three decades if pressures on the world's oceans were addressed. The review, published in science journal Nature, identified climate change as one of the critical roadblocks that could delay or prevent the rehabilitation of marine life, as current trajectories of greenhouse gas emissions continues to rise, leading to a warming of 2.6 to 4.5 °C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, far exceeding the 1.5°C long-term goal of the Paris Agreement.  The review echoes the highlights of the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in September last year, which stressed that climate change is making the ocean less habitable for marine life as it contributes to acidification, loss of oxygen, and changes in nutrient supplies.  The CCC underscored the need for the country’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy to consider biodiversity protection and the sustainable use of natural resources in our pursuit of socioeconomic recovery. As the window of opportunity gradually closes to manage impacts of global temperature rise, the CCC stressed that only by coming together and promoting science-based decision making in all sectors could we sustain a safer, healthier environment for all.

The Climate Change Commission, in partnership with iAcademy, lead an art exhibit entitled, Ctrl + S Now: A Print Exhibition on Climate Change Awareness and Action during the 12th Annual Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week. The exhibition featured 30 curated climate-related posters with an accompanying brochure of iAcademy's senior high school students that highlighted the youth's modern solutions to the climate crisis and demands for urgent and ambitious climate actions. [Photo from iAcademy's Facebook Page.]   MANILA, 28 April 2020 – Reiterating the need to advance the cause of a better planet amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) renewed its commitment to promote climate change education and youth empowerment in the country. The CCC echoed the pronouncement of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat on the significant role of the youth in climate action, saying that young people are key actors in raising climate change awareness, promoting sustainable lifestyles, conserving nature, and implementing adaptation and mitigation projects. The youth’s ability to find new pathways for climate action was in full display last year, the CCC noted, as the movement #FridaysForFuture started by youth climate change activist Greta Thunberg gained support from millions of people across the globe. In September 2019, more than 7.6 million people participated in the Global Climate Strikes, making it one of the largest coordinated global protests in history. With the support of 73 trade unions, 820 civil society organizations, and 3,000 companies, the movement was able to mobilize 6,100 events across 185 countries. Thousands of students and climate change advocates in the Philippines joined the movement as they demanded governments around the world and the private business to pursue climate justice. To sustain this momentum, the CCC said it will engage more institutions from the private business sector and civil society in its ongoing initiatives for the youth. These include the Annual Climate Science Youth Congress, which showcases the innovative researches of young scientists on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and this year’s launch of the Klima Film Festival which taps into the creativity of the youth to advocate for climate action through film.   In November 2019, the CCC forged cooperation and partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Academy (iAcademy) on promoting climate change advocacy in the youth sector. According to the CCC, pursuing convergence between government and non-government institutions will help bridge the gap between climate science, policy, and practice. With most of the country still under the enhanced community quarantine due to Covid-19, the CCC urged climate change advocates to be more creative in raising awareness and demanding action to address the prevailing climate emergency. The CCC said that the voice of the youth is important in setting the stage for a green recovery that will make the country’s health, economic, and social systems more resilient to pandemics and climate change.

MANILA, 27 April 2020 – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) expressed support to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s call for the establishment of a regional early warning system for pandemics that immediately forewarns countries of imminent public health emergencies.   President Duterte, who chairs the CCC, made the call during his intervention in the Special Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), which gathered the region’s heads of state via video conference on April 14, 2020.   President Duterte urged his fellow state leaders to converge and pursue efforts in strengthening national and regional capacities and programs to address current and imminent disease outbreaks.   “COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic the world will face. We have to be ready for future outbreaks. We therefore have to improve and expand existing ASEAN’s mechanisms to cover public health emergencies. Specifically, we should establish an early warning system for pandemics in the region. This is something vital and concrete that we can do in a collective manner,” he said. Among the countries in Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the third highest number of cases with a total number of 7,579 COVID-19 cases, following Singapore and Indonesia, with 13,624 and 8,882 cases, respectively, as of April 26.   The climate body advised that the strengthening of surveillance and early warning for emerging and re-emerging diseases is critical in ensuring the resilient recovery of ASEAN countries from the pandemic in the new normal, noting that the climate emergency increases the risk of engendering and spreading diseases caused by viruses and pathogens.   With the lacking supply of essential medicines and medical equipment for COVID-19, President Duterte urged to enhance regional cooperation and networking to boost production and facilitate intra-ASEAN trade of these life-saving necessities. He also encouraged the ASEAN countries to remain open for trade to ensure the continuous flow of goods within the region.   President Duterte also supported the undertaking of medical research and development toward finding a cure for COVID-19, as well as Thailand’s proposal to establish a COVID-19 ASEAN Response Fund for developing a vaccine or treatment for the disease. “Our present challenge transcends borders and exempts no one. Regardless of how we handle the crisis within our own respective territories, we can only be truly safe if we defeat this virus everywhere. Let us therefore strengthen our networks of solidarity and cooperation. Let us surmount this crisis together,” President Duterte said.

MANILA, 22 April 2020 – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day this April 22, Deputy Speaker and Lone District of Antique Representative Loren Legarda called for stronger climate action, encouraging people to join the online climate movement amidst the pandemic created by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). “The phenomenon of climate change is so complex and overreaching in its impacts that we should now begin calling it the ‘climate emergency’,” Legarda said. This year’s theme, "Climate Action," reflects the unprecedented impacts of climate change as it affects food production, water security, settlements, jobs and livelihood, human welfare, safety and security, poverty reduction, economic growth, and, consequently, the overall pursuit of sustainable development. “We have seen many times the impact of natural hazards and the prevalence of disaster risk, exacerbated by climate change. They kill thousands of individuals, wipe out cities and communities, and undo years of development gains,” stated Legarda. As an environmentalist and climate activist, her advocacy for many decades was to protect the environment and call for communities to increase their resilience to climate change through adaptation and disaster risk reduction measures. During her term in the Senate, Legarda enacted vital laws such as Republic Act No. 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009 which created the Climate Change Commission, mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation in policies and programs. This was followed by the enactment of RA 10121 or the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act. Representing a shift from mere response in times of disasters, the PDRRM law promotes a comprehensive National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan that strengthens the capacity of the national government and promotes locally-led action together with stakeholders, to build the resilience of communities. “The world cannot afford further delays, more so the vulnerable people who end up as climate refugees in their own communities, they who suffer again and again from tragedies brought about by a climate crisis not of their own doing. These vulnerable sectors include our indigenous peoples, farmers, fisherfolk, persons with disabilities, women, children and the elderly,” Legarda continued. Despite the COVID-19 crisis and even as most of Earth Day celebrations have been pushed through digital and online media, Legarda urges everyone to continue the fight for climate justice. “As we mark the 50th year of celebrating Earth Day, let us utilize our digital resources and skills to take climate action and raise awareness on protecting the planet while keeping our families safe from the current pandemic. In this celebration, let us always remember that to protect nature is to protect ourselves and our only home, not only for the present but for the future generations,” Legarda said.

Participants representing several local government units of the Province of the Lanao Del Norte during the ELCCAP Training for Lanao Del Norte LGUs.   MANILA, 22 April 2020 – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the third anniversary of the Paris Agreement taking effect in the Philippines, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) renewed its commitment to advance climate action in the country. This year’s Earth Day theme is “Climate Action”. In a video release, the CCC said that the agency will increase its efforts to raise public awareness and help more communities adapt to climate change. Since 2016, the CCC continues strengthen its Communities for Resilience Program or CORE, which is the main platform of the agency for capacity building and training for the academe and the local government professionals.  Said program is especially focused on enhancing local development and investment plans, including local climate change action plans, local disaster risk reduction and management plans, comprehensive land use plans, and comprehensive development plans, and on preparing quality project proposals for People’s Survival Fund grant funding.  With the current health crisis, the Commission is planning to launch an e-learning version of the CORE. Moreover, the CCC also pledged to further engage national and local leaders to heed the latest climate science as basis in making decisions for the people and the environment, and to support the transition of all sectors to a green economy.  The climate body emphasized that the true test of our country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement will be in the implementation of the necessary measures that will help us achieve the global climate goal – the 1.5°C. In doing all these, the CCC also called on all government agencies, stakeholders and individuals to accelerate efforts, work with even greater vigor and resolve, and make climate action our foremost priority to build a safe and sustainable future for all. 

MANILA, 21 April 2020 – In preparation for the 2021 National Budget process of the Philippine Government, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) conducted the annual orientation on Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) to aid national government agencies to identify, design, and tag climate adaptation and mitigation programs, activities, and projects for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act. Under enhanced community quarantine due to CoViD-19, this time, the orientation was held virtually. “We are grappling with an unprecedented crisis of enormous scale and impact. But this is also an extraordinary time when our work in government is most critical. Everything we do during and after this pandemic will ultimately define the country’s readiness and responsiveness to the challenges of the new normal,” said CCC Secretary De Guzman in his opening message delivered by CCC Assistant Secretary Romell Antonio O. Cuenca. Around 200 participants from various National Government Agencies (NGAs), Constitutional Offices, and Government Owned- and Controlled- Corporations (GOCCs) were oriented on the expenditure tagging process, with topics ranging from  climate change science, domestic and international responses to climate change, and governance. Leading the orientation were Sec. De Guzman represented by Asec. Cuenca, Undersecretary Analiza Rebuelta-Teh and Director Elenida Basug of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo of Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The CCET was issued as a joint policy of the DBM and CCC, through DBM-CCC JMC 2015-01, which requires government instrumentalities to tag climate-related items in the budget using climate change typologies. Tracking climate expenditure helps monitor the progress implementation of climate actions in the country. “Since the enactment of the Climate Change Act of 2009, we have institutionalized the mainstreaming of climate science and risk information in the government’s plans, policies, and investments. In 2015, we enhanced our budget process to include CCET. Through this, we are able to identify the extent of adaptation and mitigation actions that the government could fund, and those that we could put on the table for climate finance,” said Sec. De Guzman. The activity aimed to further strengthen the mainstreaming of climate change in the government’s work by emphasizing on processes, roles and responsibilities, and collaboration. This year’s focus audience are member agencies of the CCAM-DRR Cabinet Cluster, the Climate Change Advisory Board (CCAB), and the technical working group of the Risk Resiliency Program (RRP). The Risk Resiliency Program (RRP), under the Program Convergence Budgeting, is the framework program to assist the government in strengthening the resiliency of natural ecosystems and the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities to short- and long-term risks using a landscape management approach in selected major and principal river basins.  The convergence between CCET and RRP is highlighted in this year’s orientation to advance said shared results in the sector. The RRP, aligned with Philippine Development Plan (PDP) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), allows the Cluster to focus the available fiscal space on the key priority programs on Climate Change Adaptation & Mitigation, and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCAM-DRR) within and across the national government agencies. The DENR leads the program as the Chair of the Cabinet Cluster on CCAM-DRR. “As we confront the challenges of the new normal in the era of climate change, we need to prepare a national budget that will protect the lives and livelihoods of our people from the impacts of climate change and will save our planet from further destruction,” said De Guzman.

MANILA, 20 April 2020 — With the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) until the end of this month, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) highly encourages students at home to enroll for free in climate change and environmental online courses. The CCC noted the need to vigorously promote environmental education, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9512 or the National Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008. The climate body added that through environmental education, our citizens, most especially the youth, would realize the intrinsic relationship of humanity with nature, reflect on the unique role of all living species, and appreciate the linkages of ecosystems services to the public health crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), animals are the likely source of COVID-19, which has infected almost two million people worldwide to date and placed a strain on the global economy. Based on the report of the WHO-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019, COVID-19 has a genome identity of 96% to a bat SARS-like coronavirus and 86%-92% to a pangolin SARS-like coronavirus. In this crucial time of a pandemic, the climate body emphasized that these online courses could be a channel for raising awareness on the latest science and good practices on addressing climate change and disaster impacts, as well as on national and community-led action worldwide. Among the online courses that are available for free during the ECQ are the following: •   Environmental security and sustainable peace by UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) – This massive online course provides an in-depth introduction to the multiple roles that natural resources and the environment play in the onset, escalation, and resolution of, and recovery from, violent conflicts. Many of the considerations and approaches of this course are also relevant to understanding and addressing social conflicts around natural resources and the environment. The course can be accessed through this link:  https://sdgacademy.org/course/environmental-security-and-sustaining-peace/ •   Disasters and ecosystems: Resilience in a changing climate by UNEP – The course is about the inter-linkages between ecosystems, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. It gives an overview of tools, approaches, global policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, and a hands-on approach to implementing ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://courses.adpc.net/ •   Urban Metabolism for Policy Makers by UNEP and GI-REC (Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities) – This course targets policymakers interested in urban metabolism and how its understanding can help in developing more comprehensive policies to meet the Paris Agreement targets.  The course can be accessed through this link:  https://metabolismofcities.org/resources/mooc •   Introduction to Life Cycle thinking by Life Cycle Thinking by UNEP –This E-Learning Module Kits draws in materials from the Life Cycle Initiatives and gives participants an overview of approaches on how to assess the impacts of any given sustainability issue considering all of its life cycle stages. The module provides an introduction to life cycle thinking and discusses its applications to public policies, businesses, and consumers.  The course can be accessed through this link:  https://www.learnlifecycle.com/courses/lct •   Wheels of Metals: Urban Mining for Circular Economy by UNEP – This course explores the challenges related to metals supply, including their scarcity and environmental impacts, and the conditions and consequences of a circular economy for metals, based on the reports of the International Resource Panel. The course can be accessed through this link:  https://www.my-mooc.com/en/mooc/metals/ •   Achieving Sustainable Development by Trinity College Dublin – The course provides key considerations on SDGs including peace, healthcare, sustainable cities, and water and sanitation. Learners will examine the ways in which development can truly be sustainable and actual impacts in communities.   The course can be accessed through this link:  https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/achieving-sustainable-development •   Concepts in Sustainable Development: An Introduction to the Key Issues by University of Leicester – In this course, learners will study the conceptual foundation of sustainable development related complex problems.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/sustainability •   Environmental Justice by University of East Anglia – The course provides understanding on how climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation affect people. It also explores the topic of justice in environmental management.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/environmental-justice •   Ecology and Wildlife Conservation by University of Leeds – This course explores the study of ecosystems and conserving the world’s biodiversity.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/ecology-and-wildlife-conservation •   Environmental Challenges: Scarcity and Conflict in the Natural Environment by University of Leeds – This course explores aspects of conflict and resource scarcity, and applies these to decision-making and negotiation skills.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/environmental-ethics-scarcity-conflict •   Environmental Challenges: Human Impact in the Natural Environment by University of Leeds – This course explores approaches to the causality and dynamics of environmental systems, and how humans are involved and affected by these systems worldwide.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/environmental-ethics-human-impact •   The Challenge of Global Water Security by Cardiff University – This course provides an introduction to the challenges of water security and how human activity and environmental issues affect water resources.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/global-water-security •   Future Food: Sustainable Food Systems for 21st Century by University of Exeter – This course provides potential solutions to food shortage in the context of the global food system. The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/future-food •   Explore How Farmers Produce Food Sustainably by University of Reading – This course provides a better understanding of food sources and the challenges that many farmers face to produce food sustainably.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/explore-how-farmers-produce-food-sustainably •   Farm to Fork: Sustainable Food Production in a Changing Climate by Queen’s University Belfast and Universita Degli Studi Di Torino – The course provides information on food and agriculture in the modern world. Learners will learn about the complexity of the global food supply chain, the vulnerability of the food industry to emerging threats, and solutions to stopping these threats early. The learners will also consider the issues surrounding production of food of animal origin.  The course can be accessed through this link: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/sustainable-agriculture-in-a-changing-environment •   Climate Change 101: Understanding Climate Change in Agri-Fisheries by Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) – The course aims to enhance knowledge and understanding on climate change in the Philippine agriculture and fisheries sector. The course consists of two modules – i) Overview of Climate Change and ii) Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for Agriculture and Fisheries.  The course can be accessed through this link:  http://e-extension.gov.ph/elearning/course/view.php?id=212 •   Introductory e-Course on Climate Change by One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) – The course provides basic concepts on climate change through six modules – Climate Change Science, International and Policy Framework for Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change Finance, and Planning for Climate Change.  All modules are available on portable document format (PDF) and PowerPoint Presentation for offline study or training purposes. The modules also include links to other UN resources on climate change, which provides a gateway to more in-depth and specific information. The course can be accessed through this link:  https://unccelearn.org/course/view.php?id=7&page=overview •   Children and Climate Change by UN CC:Learn – The course presents the main impacts of climate change to children and youth and explores ways to strengthen their resilience. The course consists of five modules – The Impact of Climate Change on Children, Strengthening Children’s Resilience to Climate Change, The Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation for Children, Empowering Children to Act on Climate Change through Education, and A Climate Change Agenda for Children. Once completed the learners will receive a certificate of completion.  The course can be accessed through this link:  https://unccelearn.org/course/view.php?id=23&page=overview •   Human Health and Climate Change by UN CC:Learn – The course provides an introduction to the health challenges and opportunities associated with climate change. The course consists of one module divided into three sections – Climate Change and Human Health, Adaptation: Building Health Systems’ Resilience to Climate Change, and the Mutual Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation and Health Policies.  The course can be accessed through this link:  https://unccelearn.org/course/view.php?id=20&page=overview •   Climate Change in Practice by Global Citizenship Education (GCED) Online Campus – The course comprises four sessions – Introduction to Climate Change, Anthropogenic Drivers of Climate Change, Societal and Environmental Implications of Climate Change, and International Efforts to Climate Change. To effectively assist learners’ understanding and learning progress, a set of quizzes is offered. Upon successful completion of the course, a certificate is provided. The course can be accessed through this link: http://www.gcedonlinecampus.org/course/view.php?id=39 Other free online courses on climate change offered by UN CC:Learn can be accessed through this website:  https://www.uncclearn.org/learning-resources Although these online courses give more flexibility while at home, CCC emphasized that these classes keep the masses away from a dangerous epidemic of misinformation which is quickly spreading along with the COVID-19 disease. The agency said that with well-informed citizens, we could bounce back from this challenge.

MANILA, 20 April 2020 — Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda today urged national law enforcement units and local government officials to strictly implement laws on Philippine wildlife protection and conservation amid the escalating threats of biodiversity loss and the global pandemic due to zoonotic diseases and climate change.   Citing the 2019 Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services released by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES), Legarda said that without intervention from governments all over the world to halt wildlife trade and unsustainable use of remaining resources, about one million species of plants and animals will be at risk of extinction.   According to the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2015-2028, the Philippines counts a significant number of endangered and threatened species like the tamaraw, tarsier, and Philippine eagle, and almaciga and waling-waling plants.    “Let us be reminded that every species has a role to play in the web of life. If we do not protect biodiversity, the web will soon disintegrate and we will never be spared from the effects of it,” Legarda said.   Legarda cited three important policies to protect Philippine wildlife from extinction due to illegal wildlife trade, deforestation and impacts of climate change. These are Republic Act No. 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act of 2001; Republic Act No. 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018; and Republic Act No. 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009, which she principally authored and sponsored.   RA 9147 regulates the collection and trade of wildlife, especially protecting threatened or exotic species under domestic law pursuant to international conventions. RA 11038 aims to establish a legal basis for local communities and other stakeholders to participate in the management and protection of protected areas. RA 9729, which also created the Climate Change Commission, promotes key development investments in climate-sensitive sectors such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, coastal and marine resources, health and infrastructure to ensure the achievement of national sustainable development goals.   “Addressing the threat of species extinction, habitat loss, and climate change requires decisive leadership alongside bold and far-reaching initiatives from all of us. While there is still time, we need to strictly implement these environmental laws to sustain our remaining species from extinction and let them prosper for our future generations,” Legarda said.