By: Bryan Gonzales

Grassroots engagements and systemic changes are needed to address the ongoing climate crisis, said two of the country’s leading climate experts during CODE-NGO’s Social Development Week 2023 Public Forum. 

Secretary Robert E.A. Borje, who serves as commissioner and vice chair of the Climate Change Commission, said climate change is a global governance challenge. 

He stressed that the Philippines is no stranger to climate change, which continues to be an obstacle to the country’s economic growth and food security.

However, while the Philippines is exposed to multiple climate-induced risks, he said the country has made great strides in responding to climate change, including the inclusion of climate action as a chapter in the current Philippine Development Plan. 

Arguing that no task is too big or too small when it comes to climate action, Borje said civil society organizations continue to play a crucial role in bringing climate action to the grassroots level

For his part, attending the forum while leading this year’s Climate Justice Walk from Manila to Tacloban, Leyte, Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Naderev Sano said the ongoing climate crisis is rooted in avarice, arrogance and apathy, all of which remain unaddressed up to this day.

He said the limits of climate adaptation are now being breached, with the climate crisis inflicting unprecedented loss and damage. 

At the same time, the world’s richest countries contribute the most to global greenhouse gas emissions and yet, countries with the least responsibility to the crisis are the most affected.

Condemning the profit orientation of the global economic order, Sano argued that dysfunctional economic and development frameworks need to be changed and various socio-economic challenges must be addressed to prevent the acceleration of the ongoing climate crisis.

Moreover, systemic changes should uphold gender justice and empower women with the aim of changing existing power relations and decision-making systems to promote an anti-patriarchal people power.

This year’s Social Development Week Public Forum tackled various issues pertinent to climate change in line with the theme “Facing the Impact of Climate Change on Sustainable Development.” 

To watch the recording of this session, click here. 

Know more about our Social Development Week! 

Visit https://code-ngo.org/socialdevelopmentweek