November 27 ------ The Philippine office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling on the government to urgently take concrete steps to address climate change as the country’s delegates to the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) return home. WWF in a statement urged the government to hastily put in place policies and make necessary executive decisions following the conclusion of the COP26 as the gathering “is not just a one-time event where world leaders make surprise announcements and flowery speeches.”
The non-profit organization also said that the implementation of such actions must be “enhanced and stakeholders must be gathered and galvanized so that the country can move towards a future responsive to climate change.” WWF said that while “most Filipinos are already suffering from the climate crisis,” it “doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless.”
According to the group, the government must take the following actions, which are in line with the pledges and commitment its delegates made during the COP26 in Glasgow:
• Accelerate the clean and just energy transition through more renewable energy sources and energy efficiency use
• Undertake enhanced implementation of the Philippine NDC and ensure that the Philippine national budget supports our climate actions
• Put in place executive measures and policies that integrate sustainability in the systems that provide our basic needs
• Seriously implement actions to stop nature loss, scale-up restoration, and integrate the value of nature in our national plans
• Use effective leadership to get our local governments, the private sector, and all stakeholders to apply solutions towards climate resilience, environmental protection, and sustainable development
“Words won’t solve the climate crisis. Actions are what we need to see to Change the Ending for the planet now,” Angela Ibay, WWF-Philippines’ Head of Climate and Energy, said in a statement. “The Philippine delegation, led by DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, should make it clear now what direction the country is heading to protect nature and people from the worst effects of climate change,” she added. “With the elections and a change of administration coming next year, our leaders should not put off addressing the climate crisis for later anymore.”
Source: mb.com.ph