QC Mayor Belmonte designated ‘Champion of the Earth’

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte has been named a 2023 Champion of the Earth by the United Nations Environment Program (Unep) for her innovative and impactful initiatives to protect the environment and combat plastic pollution.

Belmonte is among the laureates celebrated in the policy leadership category, the UN’s highest environmental award honoring individuals, groups, and organizations whose actions have transformative impacts on the environment.

The Unep, in their official announcement uploaded on their website, commended Mayor Belmonte’s dedication to transforming Quezon City into an environmental trailblazer.

Inger Andersen, executive director of Unep, lauded Belmonte’s passionate leadership and policy achievements, emphasizing the pivotal role of local authorities in solving global environmental challenges.

READ: Belmonte, Singson emerge as top performing city mayors 

Trailblazer

“For her efforts to transform Quezon City into an environmental trailblazer, Belmonte has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership, one of the UN’s highest environmental honors,” Andersen said.

“Mayor Josefina Belmonte’s passionate leadership and policy achievements exemplify how local authorities can solve global environmental problems,” she added.

Belmonte is the first Filipino elected official to receive the Champions of the Earth recognition.

“The people, especially the marginalized, are the city’s top priority in crafting just and effective climate action,” Belmonte said.

Under Belmonte’s leadership, Quezon City has implemented a series of policies aimed at reducing plastic pollution and promoting environmental sustainability.

Initiatives such as banning single-use plastic bags, cutlery, straws, and containers in restaurants and fast-food chains, establishing the “Trash to Cashback” program, and launching the “Vote to Tote” campaign have garnered international acclaim.

Belmonte has also spearheaded the establishment of refill stations for everyday essentials, providing residents with affordable and eco-friendly alternatives. She has also actively promoted urban farming programs to address food insecurity.

Quezon City has declared a climate emergency, allocating significant portions of the city’s budget to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis. The city aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.