Muslim Communities Taking Action On Climate Change - Legarda

Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change cited the efforts of the Muslim communities who have agreed on a Muslim Seven Year Action Plan on Climate Change. '"Their plans to work towards transforming the Hajj into an environment-friendly pilgrimage; to construct a "green mosque"; develop Muslim cities as "green cities"; and train imams on environmental education are highly laudable."

Senator Legarda, Guest Speaker in today's Muslim Association for Climate Change Action: A Roundtable Discussion Meet at the Imperial Hotel in Quezon City, congratulated the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy, the Magbassa Kita Foundation and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for initiating a dialogue and collaboration for Muslim action to address the threats of the effects of climate change in Muslim Mindanao.

"The network of Muslim scientists and environmentalists that this forum seeks to create is crucial in ensuring that the vulnerability of our Muslim brothers and sisters to the impact of climate change is identified and fully addressed."

"I believe this is fully reflected in Islamic teaching - that humans have responsibilities as stewards of the Earth. "

In her speech, Legarda said it is projected that Mindanao will be warmer and dryer in 2020 and 2050 compared to Luzon, but Western Mindanao, particularly the Central and Southern Peninsula are projected to have the highest increase in temperature.

"We can no longer content ourselves with reactionary, piecemeal, and insufficient responses. We cannot simply address each disaster occurrence by distributing relief goods. We cannot afford to witness again and again scenarios of families taking refuge on their rooftops, being torn apart and languishing in evacuation camps."

"We need to start doing something lest our strategies and action plans be washed away by swelling floods. We cannot delay action that will genuinely save lives, homes and livelihoods in peril."

Legarda concluded, "I join you all in re-thinking development - the kind founded on socio-economic progress, ecosystems protection, and good governance. It is my hope that this will be the start of our strong partnership in raising awareness, mobilizing direct action and promoting solutions to climate change."