Hollande lauds Philippines' role in climate fight

MANILA, Philippines - French President Francois Hollande highlighted the important role the Philippines has played in encouraging the international community to take action in the face of climate change. 

In a dinner hosted last week by Hollande at the Elysée Palace for delegates of the Summit of the Consciences for the Climate, the Philippines joined 45 other countries in signing the Call to Conscience for the Climate.

The document urges world leaders to represent their nations in the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21) “as a conscious human being,” and not just send a representative.

To highlight the importance of this summit, Hollande invited the guests to an official dinner at the Elysée Palace in Paris on July 20.

Sen. Loren Legarda joined the delegates from various sectors in signing the document.

“The greatest challenge we will have to fight to combat climate change is our own apathy and indifference,” Legarda said. 

Legarda, UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific, ended her speech with a commitment to launch a Summit of Consciences for the Climate in the Philippines. 

After Hollande’s visit to the Philippines last February, Legarda was invited by France as one of the speakers to participate in the summit in preparation for COP 21 in Paris in December.

During the dinner, Hollande mentioned his state visit to the Philippines and the country’s role in encouraging the international community to undertake meaningful action to address climate change. 

He cited the Philippine-France Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, one of the major outcomes of his visit.  

Legarda joined religious, political and environmental leaders including former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, Prince Albert of Monaco, M Mohammad Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in this summit aimed at raising global awareness on climate change. 

The senator urged the international community to “have a personal reflection on what we can do to contribute to protecting the planet.”

She emphasized that “we are the custodians of the Earth and stewards of its natural resources thus, it is our responsibility to ensure that future generations will continue to live in a green, healthy and resilient world.”