Legarda urges fellow candidates to lay out plans for climate action

Three-term Senator and Senatorial Candidate Loren Legarda during 52nd celebration of Earth Day at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Arboretum, Diliman, Quezon City on Friday.

MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial Candidate Loren Legarda on Friday nudged all candidates for the upcoming national and local elections to lay out their plans for climate adaptation and mitigation.

“I urge all my fellow candidates, from the national level to the cities and municipalities, to present their environmental agenda to the voters. We can start by focusing on three things: Managing risks instead of managing disasters, protecting our ecosystems, and improving rural livelihoods,” Legarda cited during the 52nd celebration of Earth Day.

Legarda further emphasized that the people should know how public servants plan to invest in the environment to address the climate crisis. “I know that regardless of our parties and colors, we all agree that we need to save our planet—and I hope we all campaign just as hard for our climate, and lead much-needed discussions on climate change,” she said.

She also noted the vital role of elected officials in responding to the climate crisis, especially at the local government level.

“Our people are looking for the climate agenda not just of national candidates, but of local ones. After all, local governments are frontliners in planning and implementing programs for climate resilience. LGUs see firsthand the impacts of the climate crisis, and they are often the first responders when the worst of the consequences come,” she said.

Last year, the three-term Senator and now senatorial candidate first asked 2022 presidential candidates to highlight the environment on their platforms, emphasizing the importance of the upcoming election in climate action and offering some solutions for a more sustained new normal.

“The terms of the leaders we elect in May will come within the very short window of time we have to take drastic action in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. The leaders we choose have an important role in addressing this crisis, and the impact of their decisions would last long after their terms expire.”

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