Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda on Friday sought more support for efforts to build resilience in communities vulnerable to climate change.

In a statement, Legarda called for collective action, both at local and international levels, to address climate change through sustainable practices.

“We must prioritize sustainable practices, invest in renewable energy sources, water security, sustainable and circular livelihoods, and enact policies that mitigate and adapt to climate change’s devastating effects,” Legarda said.

The Philippines is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In 2022, the World Risk Index ranked the Philippines as the country with the highest disaster risk.

The recent report of Metro Manila hitting an all-time high record of 45°C heat index, Legarda said, is not just a local anomaly but a “glaring symptom of a planet in crisis.”

“The warning signs have been evident for years, but now we are truly facing the era of ‘global boiling’ as aptly termed by the United Nations,” Legarda said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier said that the era of global warming has ended and the era of global boiling has arrived.

“This is not just an environmental issue; it is a matter of social justice, economic stability, and global security. The time for rhetoric and half-measures has passed,” Legarda said.

Under the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Philippines, the country commits to a projected greenhouse gas emissions reduction and avoidance of 75 percent, of which 2.71 percent is unconditional, for the period 2020 to 2030 for the sectors of agriculture, wastes, industry, transport, and energy.

The NDC, which is a requirement for every signatory of the Paris Agreement, is a climate action plan, which is updated every five years, to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts. (PNA)