COP21: The road to Paris starts in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The Embassy of France hosts  “COP21: The Road to Paris Starts in Manila,” from Oct. 5 to 11, with a series of activities involving various NGOs, experts, students and members of the academe, and artists.

“COP21: The Road to Paris Starts in Manila,” also called Climate Week, takes inspiration from the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change, an appeal directed to the international community to cooperate in addressing climate change and to support the conclusion of an ambitious, universal and legally-binding agreement to limit the warming of the Earth to below 2°C during COP21.

“When President Hollande and President Aquino launched the Manila Call to Action last February, we recognized this as the start of the road to Paris, towards a better and more sustainable planet for future generations,” said French Embassy deputy head of mission Laurent Legodec.

Climate Week opens on Oct. 5 with a reception at the Alliance Française de Manille, during which a photo exhibit on the environment, “Surface Tension: Perspectives on the Changing Landscape” by artists Wawi Navarroza, Veejay Villafranca, and MM Yu will be inaugurated. When Heaven Wept, a film by Film Development Council of the Philippines chairman Briccio Santos on the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, will also be premiered at the Alliance Française de Manille cinematheque.

Conferences on COP21, climate justice, the preservation and conservation of culture and heritage, the role of media, and sustainable cities and energy transition will also be held in various universities from Oct. 6 to 8.

Local artists will be given venues to exhibit or perform their craft at the Archivo 1984 Gallery and the Pineapple Lab Gallery in Makati from Oct. 6 to 10.

Various French films on the environment will also be shown to the public free of charge on Oct. 6 and 7 at the Alliance Française de Manille.

A special exhibit, “60 Solutions to Address Climate Change” by renowned French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, will be held at the Senate of the Philippines from Oct. 9 to 23. The inauguration of the exhibit will take place during the Summit of Conscience in the Philippines initiated by Sen. Loren Legarda.

The public is also invited to attend "Climate Rhythms," a free concert featuring artists dedicated to the protection of the environment. The concert will take place at the Rizal Park Open-Air Auditorium on Oct. 10.

The diplomatic corps, representatives from the government, civil society, media personalities, and environmental advocates are invited to a symbolic cycling event called “Bike to Paris” on Oct. 11 to formally close the week-long event.

For information, visit www.ambafrance-ph.org or find the Embassy of France to the Philippines on social media at www.facebook.com/FrenchEmbassyManila and www.twitter.com/FrenchEmbassyPH. Use the hashtag #ClimateWeekPH and #COP21 to join the discussions online.

For questions, email ClimateWeekPH@gmail.com.