Execs to tackle global warming in La Union conference

Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
By Jonathan L. Mayuga / Correspondent
BusinessMirror online

TO address the problems and challenges posed by global warming and climate change, career-service executives in La Union are sponsoring a climate change summit on June 25 in time for the national celebration of Arbor Day at the Oasis Resort in San Fernando City, La Union.

The move was lauded by Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who described it as an important strategy to communicate on a wider scale the issues relating to climate change.

“Making people understand the underlying facts about the problem is already half a battle won since the people will be ultimate implementers of the things that need to be done to address climate change.”

Dubbed Career Executive Service-Creative Innovations and Reforms for Committed Leadership and Effectiveness Forum: Usaping Global Warming, the summit is in response to President Arroyo’s call to support the government’s various environment programs, particularly those geared toward addressing climate change, said Washington Agustin, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority director and president of NUCESO/Association of Regional Executives, which is organizing the event.

Atienza was invited to grace the occasion, along with former Environment secretary, now chairman of Earth Day Network Philippines Elisea “Bebet” Gozun and Environment Undersecretary for Legal, Finance and Administration Atty. Mary Ann Lucille Sering. The forum will revolve on the science of climate change, its impact to the Philippines, and the country’s response to climate change.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional executive director Corazon Davis said the forum is part of the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month and the World Environment Day, which has for its theme “Your Planet Needs Yo-Unite to Combat Climate Change.”

“The bad news about climate change is the fact that it is the most threatening of all environmental problems facing humanity today. The good news is that we know the root causes of global warming and climate change, and that our experts on this matter have been guiding us on what to do to mitigate its impact as well as how to adapt to it,” Atienza said.

Atienza said that while the problem of climate change is global in nature, there are measures that every single individual on earth can do at his or her level, which when taken collectively, can have far-reaching effect to mitigate global warming and climate change. He cited tree planting, waste segregation, recycling and waste reduction as examples of measures that can easily be done even by children.