City commits in fight vs. climate change

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has declared a climate emergency and has committed to a so-called “Just Transition” that initiates the effort to reverse global warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned “that the world has about a decade to bring greenhouse gases under control, or face a probable rise of temperatures well beyond the 1.5C above pre-industrial levels which would bring devastating effects such as drought, floods, heat waves and damage in agriculture.”

In response to the urgency to take concrete actions on the dangers brought by the climate crisis, the city will take immediate actions, starting with the Proposed Resolution and Ordinance of Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon.

In the Proposed Resolution and Ordinance, the Just Transition would have the city to commit to appropriate funds and passing measures and policies to end citywide greenhouse emissions no later than 2030.

It aims to shift the city from being “an extractive economy to a regenerative economy,” and fully commits to the principle of Energy Democracy which involves transforming current corporate-driven economy to one that is centered on the principle of causing no harm to environment, and concerns for the well-being of the people.

The city is to create a Climate Change Technical Working Group to craft a Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) as mandated by the Climate Change Act of 2009.

Pope Francis has also declared a global “climate emergency” warning the dangers of global warming and urges everyone to act on it for it will be “a brutal act of injustice towards the poor and future generations.”  GAN (FREEMAN)