Cross-sector leaders join forces to champion a greener future
Environmental advocates, community leaders, and academic stakeholders recently gathered in a Greenhouse Gas Accounting Seminar-Workshop to spark conversations on the perils of climate change and develop a unified approach to protect the planet.
Titled Laudato Sí and the Urgency of Climate Action, this collaborative initiative was based on the 2015 Papal Encyclical of Pope Francis on “care for our common home”.
The seminar-workshop was conducted by Green Convergence, a major environmental coalition which advocates for safe food, a healthy environment, and a sustainable economy, through the Ako Ang Bukas Program.
Hosted by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) Antipolo, it was held in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources IV-A (DENR CALABARZON), Diocese of Antipolo-Commission on Ecology, and the Antipolo City Government.
The event was likewise supported by the First Philippine Holdings, Energy Development Corporation’s BINHI Program, Lasallian Institute for the Environment, and Benilde Antipolo.
During the discussion, representatives from various institutions such as the church, government, and academe spoke about greenhouse gas emissions, carbon footprint analysis, effective strategies to build a climate-resilient future, and environmental stewardship.
Nilo Tamoria, CESO III, DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director, related this activity to the government agency’s flagship Project TRANSFORM, or Transdisciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multistakeholder Engagement. It is rooted in a shared goal of safeguarding natural resources.
He likewise highlighted the importance of hope and collective action from various groups to address the issue. “Environmental sustainability requires a whole-of-society approach. No single sector can solve the climate crisis alone,” Tamoria emphasized. “Pope Francis’ Laudato Sí reminds us that our relationship with the Earth is deeply interconnected. We must translate this moral imperative into practical action.”
Youth organizations and homeowners’ associations, along with the local government units, civil society groups, private sectors, and indigenous communities, all attended the event to raise public awareness on climate change and encourage eco-friendly practices.