Filipinos urged: Make climate change adaptation a ‘way of life’

This was the main challenge highlighted during the main switch-off event for Earth Hour Philippines on Saturday night as Filipinos were urged to take concrete actions — from small steps to big initiatives — to combat climate change.

READ: ‘Pedal power’ lights up LED map of PH during Earth Hour switch-off event | From Sydney to Paris, landmarks go dark for 10th Earth Hour

“We are here because we want to prove that we can do something in this Earth Hour. But really the challenge for us, especially to the youth, is really go beyond their power and make climate change adaptation and mitigation a way of life,” said actor Dingdong Dantes, a commissioner of the National Youth Commission.

Renewable energy was at the spotlight as volunteers took turns pedaling the 10 stationary bamboo bikes attached to an energy generator during the 60-minute lights off event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Pedal power produced electricity to light up the LED (light-emitting diode) map of the Philippines.

WWF Philippines CEO Joel Palma said Earth Hour was a manifestation and a “show of force” of what people all over the world, not just Filipinos, can do to save the planet from the adverse effects of climate change.

“This moment is something that we should be able to counter climate change. With all the people lending a hand, magtutulung-tulong tayo whether you’re in Quezon City, whether you’re in the USA, whether you’re in Japan or whatever. This is one show of force na tayo, we are unified as a country, we are unified as a planet,” Palma said.

WWF ambassador Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski said Filipinos could contribute to the global cause through simple actions like promoting climate change awareness in social media and proper waste disposal.

“We also have our individual role to play for our environment. Ito po ‘yung maliliit na bagay like social media awareness or even something like ‘yung pagtapon ng basura sa tamang lugar. But there are also bigger initiatives like living out a low-carbon lifestyle and investing in renewable options,” she said.

Earth Hour was observed across 24 time zones in 178 countries. The annual campaign that started in 2007 banks on the simple action of switching off lights for 60 minutes to highlight the need for decisive climate change solutions.