As I am publishing this article, the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) that was held in Glasgow just ended. Simultaneous with COP26, Pru Life UK released the results of an independent study on the impact of climate change to Filipinos’ health and wellbeing and financial security.
The paper was launched via a PRUWise Healthscape PH webinar, Pru Life UK’s banner multisectoral health dialogue platform. Planetary health expert, member of the National Panel of Technical Experts of the Philippine Climate Change Commission, Dr. Ramon Lorenzo “Renzo”’ R. Guinto, who is also the lead author of the study, entitled “How will climate change affect the health of Filipinos in the next decade?”, explained the key insights from the study.
On this day, people all over the world will turn off their appliances and lights for one hour starting at 8:30 PM.
We can no longer ignore the effects of climate change. Just see the frequency and intensity of earthquakes happening around the world. In my own country, the Philippines, we are now experiencing a very harsh El Nino with very little rain and drought in many agricultural places. Last year, we were hit by Typhoon Ondoy which brought floods to Metro Manila in places that have never experienced floods. Many other countries are experiencing freak weather activities as well.
Rather than leave it up to the different governments around the world to do something about it, we should act as individuals, living on this one and only home planet of ours, to make changes and adapt greener and more eco-friendly lifestyles.
You can support Earth Hour by:
1. Turning off your lights at 8.30PM on March 27 2. Showing your support and adding yourself to the Earth Hour world map 3. Adding Earth Hour widgets, logos and banners to your blog or website to help us spread the word 4. Talking about Earth Hour in your social network by updating your Facebook status, grabbing a Twibbon, tweeting about your support, and more 5. Get together with your friends and family, by hosting an Earth Hour party or holding your own candlelit affair 6. Rally your local council or community group to run an Earth Hour event for your community 7. Encourage your employer and workmates to take part in Earth Hour and make energy savings every day 8. Make an Earth Hour Lantern as a symbol of hope for the future 9. Be creative! Find a new way to mark Earth Hour and let Earth Hour know all about it!
This will be the third year that my family will be joining this endeavor. Here are my 2008 and 2009 posts on it.
