MANILA, Feb. 25 (pna) – As the Philippines welcomes French President Francois Hollande’s historic first visit to the country, Filipino environmentalists and policymakers are euphoric because climate change is at the top of his agenda.
Climate Change Commission Commissioner and former senator Heherson Alvarez said Mr. Hollande’s commitment to make the next UN climate conference in Paris a success is effectively changing the French revolutionary motto to ‘Liberte, egalite, fraternite – et environnement.’
“At a time when warming of the planet is dangerously increasing, the world is fortunate that France – always a nation of grandiose and ‘avante garde’ ideas – moved into the forefront of the battle for human survival and raised morale and climate goals of leaders across the globe,” Alvarez said.
He noted President Hollande appointed the world’s first “special envoy for the protection of the planet,” eloquently conveying the French government’s depth and pledge to re-make the world in view of environmental doom.
Alvarez also praised Nicolas Hulot, France’s special envoy for the planet, for acknowledging both the Philippines and French presidents can send a common message that can spark international community action and “bring us back to our senses and to reason.”
“Both President Benigno Aquino III and President Hollande see that mitigation of carbon emissions on a global scale is key to the world’s health and our collective continued economic growth,” Alvarez said.
The former senator noted through the forthcoming State visit, President Holland “in effect is signalling the Philippines to prepare thoroughly and take active part in the Paris negotiations since France recognizes that ours is the country most vulnerable to disastrous climate change impacts.”
Over the last three decades, Alvarez has been batting establishment of a Philippine de-carbonization program. (PNA)