Climate change plan being drafted

MANILA, Philippines - Representatives from both government and civil society have joined hands in calling for immediate action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

In a forum called Government-Civil Society National Interface on Climate Change, key personalities in agriculture and environment gathered together for a two-day exercise at the Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila to draw up a national climate change development program based on the multi-sectoral, multi-disciplinary Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao island Climate Change Consultations as inputs.

“Let’s cut deep and cut cleanly,” came the call from Secretary Heherson Alvarez, vice chairman of the Climate Change Commission, during the Luzon conference. “Let‘s not wait for the tipping point of not return where climate change is irreversible and every human being in this earth will surely surer,” he said.

“time is running out and it is high for us to immediately act and consolidate our efforts in solving the impacts of Climate Change not only with the government institution, but also to include the people who are greatly affected by this worldwide phenomenon, Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said. “Let us resolve to work on adaptation and mitigation measures and to anticipate its effects,” he added.