Makati declares climate emergency

MANILA, Philippines — Makati Mayor Abby Binay on Friday declared a state of climate emergency in the city as she called on all stakeholders to implement a whole-of-society approach to combat climate change.

Binay said the city will gear up on green initiatives to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to help address the global issue.

She noted that climate change poses threats to countries and individual cities that will disrupt services and displace countless communities.

“As temperatures and sea levels continue to rise, low-lying coastal areas in cities like Makati have become more vulnerable to strong typhoons that bring floods and landslides. This will result not only in the disruption of public services but also the displacement of families and even entire communities,” the mayor said.

Among the initiatives the city government is looking to implement include the use of electric vehicles and putting up solar panels in schools and government offices.

She noted that this will not only minimize energy consumption but also ensure continuity of services even during calamities.

Following the declaration, Binay said that she hopes for more involvement of all sectors, including businesses and the grassroots.

“We call upon everyone to come together and act now. We must ensure the aggressive application of the whole-of-society approach in combating climate change,” she said.

Binay said that there should also be campaigns to educate residents and businesses about the effects of climate change and also involve them in planning to make communities more climate-resilient.

She cited data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that there has been an increase of 0.75º Celsius in the country’s annual temperature over the past 70 years.

The temperature increase in the Philippines could reach as high as 1.8º Celsius by 2050, Binay said.

Makati has been implementing several green initiatives, including enforcing the Waste Management Code and Makati Green Building Code as well as ordinances to reduce greenhouse gases and against smoke belching.

The city government has also banned the use of plastic bags and utensils in households and businesses and prohibited cigarette smoking in public places.