Vice President Sara Duterte has called for stronger national and local action on climate resilience, saying the Philippines continues to suffer the harshest consequences of global warming despite contributing the least to global emissions.

In her message for the Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Month, Duterte stressed that climate change is no longer an abstract global issue but one that directly affects Filipino families.

“Climate change is personal,” she said on Wednesday, Nov. 19.

“It affects the land we farm, the waters we fish, the homes we build, and the future we leave our children,” she added.

The Vice President noted that 15 typhoons struck the Philippines this year, displacing thousands and leaving communities “in poverty and an incredible state of destruction,” underscoring the urgency of preparedness and adaptation.

As climate-related calamities test the Filipinos’ resilience and readiness, Duterte urged Filipinos to recognize how daily choices—from consumption to waste—shape the country’s climate future.

“Each decision either deepens the challenge or helps us adapt, reduce, or prepare for the more adverse effects of the climate crisis,” she said.

Duterte highlighted the Office of the Vice President’s environmental efforts, noting that the agency has planted 1 million trees nationwide over the past three years as part of its commitment to strengthen natural defenses against extreme weather.

She called on local governments to place climate adaptation at the center of development planning, including forest and mangrove preservation, river and coastal rehabilitation, and investments in early warning systems.

Duterte also encouraged families to instill environmental responsibility in children by reducing waste, avoiding single-use plastics, and adopting sustainable habits.

“Let this month ignite a lasting commitment to a livable future, preserved and passed on for generations to come,” she said.