BUSINESSWORLD FORUM SERIES “Best Practices in Green Economy” Keynote Speech of Senator Loren Legarda BusinessWorld Forum Series 26 November 2012, 9:00 a.m.

I laud BusinessWorld for this initiative, which has the potential of bringing together players in the economic sphere, academics, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders, to reevaluate our growth models and bring us closer to sustainable development.

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2012

alarming increase in carbon dioxide emissions per capita by 2050 10.2 metric tons alarming increase in carbon dioxide emissions per capita by 2050

WORLD BANK The world is on a path to becoming 4 degrees Celsius warmer by the end of this century, and that “current greenhouse gas emissions pledges will not reduce this by much.”

30% of all species will face a high risk of extinction crop yield decline by 19% in Asia toward the end of the century rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75% 3 percent drop in the world’s GDP

As a nation, we have been engaging industrialized nations, through the annual climate change talks, to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions. And while we wait for their positive response, our government must undertake a concrete strategy to pursue a green and disaster-resilient development path.

Full implementation of our major environmental laws Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 Clean Air Act of 1999 Clean Water Act Solid Waste Management Act Renewable Energy Act

But disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business.

Clean new technologies Energy efficiency measures Corporate social responsibility

To improve the quality of life of the people and to build a sustainable and resilient human society.

Disaster risk reduction essentially means genuine development—development that is sustainable and economic growth that is resilient.

Now is the time to redefine development - to change our way of thinking and our way of doing, and give nothing less than our wholehearted commitment to a safer world a more resilient human society for many generations to come.  

Thank you