Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Monday welcomed the public’s participation to attain climate goals, backing groups, and organizations batting for climate justice.
“We welcome all forms of freedom of expression, especially in our advocacy in promoting our climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives. The city is strongly encouraging people’s participation in this cause as everyone, regardless of their age or economic status, is affected by global climate change,” she said.
Various civil society organizations are set to gather at the Quezon Memorial Circle for a “March for Climate Justice” to call on decision-makers to deliver solutions to the global climate and economic crises while they are attending this year’s COP 27 (2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference) in Egypt and G20 summit in Indonesia.
The city government is known as one of the leading localities in the Philippines pushing for climate justice.
In 2019, the city declared a climate emergency that initiated the establishment of clean, sustainable and environment-friendly programs for the QCitizens.
QC is also the only Philippine city in the C40 Cities, a global network of mayors taking urgent action to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone can thrive.
During the C40 Cities World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October, Belmonte reiterated her call on international climate financing institutions to work with cities to support the implementation of their climate action plans for them to achieve their mitigation and adaptation targets as soon as possible.
“The city’s programs for climate change will not come to fruition without the efforts of the public. We encourage a whole-of-city approach to ensure that the city’s initiatives are truly sustainable and responsive to the communities’ needs, without risking the lives and livelihood of the residents.”
“Everyone is affected by global climate change. Every action, suggestions, and concerns of stakeholders are important for the further development of our programs,” Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department chief Andrea Villaroman said.