According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “climate change means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods.
The Philippines is the most at-risk country, according to the World Risk Report 2022. The impacts of climate change in the Philippines are immense, including annual losses in GDP, changes in rainfall patterns and distribution, droughts, threats to biodiversity and food security, sea level rise, public health risks, and endangerment of vulnerable groups such as women and indigenous people.
The reports and studies have shown that there is a more significant threat than the COVID-19 pandemic. We can no longer afford to lose sight of the world's most catastrophic and protracted disaster to date: the global climate emergency. The marginalized sector and the children and youth living in rural areas are the most vulnerable when we are devastated by an increase in the frequency, intensity, and duration of floods and droughts. On October 2022, the Philippines was devastated by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Paeng. Its impact on the loss and damage of the country is critical. It killed hundreds of lives and caused billions of damages to properties, infrastructures, and crops.
It is an opportune time to heed the call for action to the Filipino youth as we are not just the leaders of the future but the leaders of today. Climate change is a real existential threat. The CCC Secretary, Robert E.A. Borje, always shares his idea to Build Right at First Sight.
He said that investments are needed in protecting the lives, livelihood, and future of all Filipinos.
Buhay, Kabuhayan, at kinabukasan ng mga Pilipino ang nakataya dito.
As emerging young leaders, we need to support the Climate Change Commission Philippines in advancing a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines. As the lead policy-making government agency on climate change matters in the Philippines, the Climate Change Commission has formulated the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change, the National Climate Change Action Plan, the Local Climate Change Action Plan, and the National Climate Risk Management Framework, among others.
Now the question must be, how can YOUth take part in addressing the big elephant in the room?
#sseayp2022#DG8#bethechange#climatechange#econewslaos
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