SEN. Loren Legarda yesterday called on climate-vulnerable nations to review their outdated policies so they can implement a more integrated approach to protect not just lives and livelihoods but also culture, identity, and history, as well.
Speaking before a meeting of Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 (CVF-V20) Finance Ministers at the National Museum in Manila, Legarda said climate change endangers “all that you see and so much more, imperils lives and livelihoods, and threatens to erase who we are.”
“It is this understanding that demands we broaden our definition of risk to fully encompass the cultural well-being of our people,” she said.
Legarda said that extreme heat alone could cost the Philippines around P466 billion annually by 2030, adding that the figure does not include the devastating loss of invaluable culture and heritage.
She said climate change has also forced communities to abandon their ancestral homes, “threatens the erosion of cultural identity, and disrupts cherished social structures,” reasons why prioritizing measures to mitigate the effects of climate change should be put in place.
“As legislators, we are more than mere policymakers; we are the stewards of our nation’s future. We must ensure that our laws reflect an unwavering commitment to both climate action and cultural preservation,” she added.
Legarda led the passage of the landmark Climate Change Act and established the People’s Survival Fund.
“To my esteemed colleagues in the Philippine Congress, I issue a solemn call to action: Let us make the full implementation of our Climate Prosperity Plan our most enduring legacy. Let our collective efforts safeguard our precious cultural treasures, empower our resilient communities, and build a sustainable future for all Filipinos,” she said.
The CVF-V20 is a coalition of 74 countries highly vulnerable to a warming planet, such as Bangladesh, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Barbados, and the Philippines.
At the heart of the coalition is the members’ Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs), which serve as national investment strategies that redefine climate action as a catalyst for economic growth and inclusive development through the deployment of renewable energy technologies, risk management tools, and nature-based solutions that strengthen national economies and adapt effectively to climate impacts.
As founding chair of the V20, the Philippines has also developed a Climate Prosperity Investment Memorandum aimed at aligning climate ambition with economic growth, renewable energy transformation, and sub-national resilience.
