Manila Call to Action: Legarda says PH will continue to lead in future climate change actions
At A Glance
- Sen. Loren Legarda said the Philippines will continue to lead, not from a place of power, but from a place of purpose.
The Philippines will continue to lead in climate change mitigation efforts as the world continues to struggle with the realities of ocean governance.
Senator Loren Legarda made this promise when she led the reaffirmation of the 2021 Manila Call to Action, Charting Philippine Ocean-Climate Policy Towards the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila on Tuesday afternoon, May 27, 2025.
Legarda, during the event, emphasized the need to be cognizant of the ocean-climate connection “in all future global agreements.”
“The Manila Call to Action is no longer just a call but a commitment. One built on decades of science, law, diplomacy, and above all, the lived realities of our people,” Legarda said during her keynote address at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Ocean Talk.
“We may have different geographies, but we share the same fate. Climate change knows no borders. Neither must our compassion, our courage, nor our desire to act,” she said.
“And so I say to all of you: The Philippines will continue to lead, not from a place of power, but from a place of purpose,” the senator assured.
The event was organized by the DFA with the invaluable support of Legarda. It was also held in partnership with the Embassy of France to the Philippines and to Micronesia, the Intramuros Administration, and Liter of Light.
The Manila Call to Action on Climate Change is a declaration launched on Feb. 26, 2015, by the French and Filipino presidents, François Hollande and Benigno Aquino III.
It was a commitment to global climate action and solidarity, and subsequently played an important role in paving the way for the success of the historic Paris Agreement at COP 21.
This joint commitment between France and the Philippines also aims to protect the environment, climate, and oceans.
During the event, Legarda led the Philippines’ reaffirmation to the Call to Action—reasserting the country’s commitment to ocean and climate leadership ahead of UNOC3 in Nice, France, from 9 to 13 June 2025.