Aboitiz holds forum on climate change

CEBU, Philippines - The Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) will conduct a two-part series of the Understanding Choices Forum on Oct. 29 and Nov. 15 at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center at Lopez Jaena St., Cebu City.

Dubbed as the “Living on the Edge Series: Climate Change Focus,” discussions will revolve around climate change, considered one of the pressing issues affecting the world today.

These are aimed to “heighten awareness, deepen understanding and inspire participation and action” on climate change.

The Oct. 29-discussion will focus on talks about “disaster-resilient communities” amid the changing climate.

The speakers for this topic will be Illac Diaz, former actor and model-turned social entrepreneur, urban green planner and founder of My Shelter foundation. Former mayor and now incumbent Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano of San Francisco, Camotes is also among the speakers.

Diaz will present his innovative design of “disaster-resilient building structures” that could withstand the harsh elements of nature, as well as what he calls the “framework and design of a resilient community.”

Arquillano, for his part, will share the experience of the Camotes group of islands in implementing climate and disaster risk reduction-oriented projects.

San Francisco, Camotes is one of the 79 places in the world that has adopted the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction Making Cities Resilient Campaign.

On Nov. 15, the topic will be “Climate Change and the Global Climate Change Politics” to be highlighted by inputs from lawyer Antonio La Viña, dean of the Ateneo School of Government and chairman of the United Nations Collaborative Initiative on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of Parties (UNFCCC COP).

Another speaker is Esperanza Garcia, founder of the Philippine Youth Climate Movement, director of Global Warming and Climate Change Initiatives for the International Youth Council and Filipino Youth Delegate to the UNFCCC COP Conference.

La Viña will talk about global debates and international initiatives and negotiations being marred with controversies from the intergovernmental panel on Climate Change.

Garcia, on the other hand, will share her experience as a global climate youth leader and the initiatives undertaken by the rest of global youth leaders.

The activities are open to the public and no registration fee is required.