Senator Loren Legarda Demands Urgent Climate Action Now
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda has called for urgent climate action now to address the worsening environmental crisis. After a series of deadly floods in July that claimed at least 38 lives and affected over eight million Filipinos nationwide, she stressed the need for bold and accountable measures.
Speaking in a privilege speech on Tuesday, Legarda emphasized that climate change is no longer just an environmental issue but a pressing crisis affecting human rights, national progress, and governance. She urged government officials and stakeholders to treat climate action now as a legal and moral imperative.
Climate Inaction Violates International Law
The senator referenced a recent advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which stated that failing to act on climate change breaches international obligations to prevent and mitigate its harmful effects.
“The age of climate action as a mere policy preference is over. Inaction is now a potential breach of international law,” Legarda said in Filipino. She added, “And perhaps more importantly, all necessary measures to protect the climate system must be taken by States as a matter of human right, because climate change is not just an environmental emergency, but an existential human rights crisis.”
Devastating Impact of Recent Storms
In recent weeks, three powerful cyclones—Crising, Dante, and Emong—have battered large parts of the Philippines. These disasters destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused roughly P13 billion in damage to critical infrastructure and agriculture, local officials noted.
Legarda lamented the recurring suffering of Filipinos. “We are always the ones at the forefront of danger. We are the ones who constantly lose our homes, are forced to stop our education, fall ill, bury our dead, and grieve,” she said. “Every storm claims the lives and futures of Filipinos.”
Despite contributing only 0.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the Philippines ranks as the most vulnerable nation to natural disasters, according to the World Risk Report.
Accountability and Immediate Measures Needed
Legarda called for accountability amid worsening problems linked to poor governance, corruption, weak law enforcement, and inadequate disaster preparedness. She urged swift action on four critical fronts:
- Ensuring transparency and accountability in climate finance;
- Supporting local governments to develop science-based adaptation and resilience plans;
- Strictly enforcing environmental laws, especially the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, while promoting renewable energy and climate-smart agriculture;
- Using the ICJ opinion to pressure high-emission countries toward climate justice, financing, and technology transfer.
“We must move faster, smarter, and more boldly than anyone else. We’re not starting from scratch: we have the institutions; we have the laws. We simply need to make them work,” Legarda asserted. “This is no longer just about the next generation, because Filipinos are already feeling the brunt of the crisis right now. But with every right step we take, we will also be the first to benefit.”
Vision for a Climate-Resilient Philippines
The senator also advocated for creating a comprehensive Philippine Climate Prosperity Investment Memorandum. This plan would help the country maximize renewable energy, green industrialization, sustainable agriculture, and build resilient infrastructure and services.
Legarda has been a leading figure in environmental legislation. Her efforts include championing laws such as the Climate Change Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, and Renewable Energy Act. She also played a key role in the Philippines’ ratification of the Paris Agreement and other international climate treaties, sources said.
For more news and updates on climate action now, visit Filipinokami.com.
