Press Release
April 23, 2009

Loren: Baffling summer rains may be a climate change manifestation

Senator Loren Legarda echoed today the supposition aired by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) on what may be the early onset of the rainy season this year.

"PAG-ASA says that global warming may be to blame for the heavy rains we are experiencing in summer season since middle of April," said Loren upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Beijing, China.

"That statement may not be conclusive as admitted by PAG-ASA, but it may be an accurate one, considering that climate change is a result of global warming," said Loren, chair and founder of the environmental group Luntiang Pilipinas.

Global warming, in turn, is blamed on the ever-increasing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.

"The heavy rains baffle a lot of people, but they are just another manifestation of climate change in our country, said Loren, a laureate of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).

Loren was in Beijing to address last April 20 the International Conference on Gender and Disaster Risk Reduction, citing the global challenge to reduce disaster risks and for countries to adapt to changing global climate.

In all of the efforts by countries and international organizations on disaster risk reduction, Loren said that the conference resulted to the drafting of the Beijing Declaration, calling for the "gendering" of initiatives on the concern.

"Governments of the world must be prepared against environmental disasters so as to minimize their toll in lives lost and properties destroyed," said Loren, the. Asia-Pacific regional champion of the UN on disaster risk reduction and global warming concerns.

In her speech, she noted the severity of recent natural disasters like the strong earthquake that hit Italy and killed scores of people, while devastating entire communities.

In Beijing, Loren lauded the participants for coming to a consensus on nine achievable actions before 2015 to ensure that a gender perspective is integrated into policies and programs on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.

"Just like the Manila Call for Action of Parliamentarians on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation which was also a consensus of the commitments of parliamentarians who attended a consultative meeting that I co-convened with the UNISDR in Manila, the Beijing Agenda for Global Action resembles a plan of action which I am confident will be carried through by all the participants from 50 countries, UN agencies and Civil Societies," she said.

Loren strongly recommended specific focus on the collection of gender-specific data and statistics on impact of disasters; conduct of gender-sensitive vulnerability, risk and capacity assessments; and development of gender-sensitive indicators to monitor and measure progress. She explained that the success of the other actions largely depends on the performance of these activities.

"I believe that the Beijing Declaration has paved the way for gendering disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. I am honored to have been part of this process and strongly urge global support for this praise-worthy initiative."

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