As the world celebrates Earth Day on Tuesday, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga called on all Filipinos to take an active role in shaping a cleaner and greener future.
In a statement on Tuesday, Loyzaga emphasized that environmental protection and climate action begin with collective responsibility.
“Earth Day offers a moment to reflect on the responsibilities we share – as Filipinos, and as stewards of a fragile planet,” she said.
“This year’s theme, ‘Our Planet, Our Power,’ speaks to a profound truth: that we hold the power to shape a future anchored on clean, renewable energy,” she added.
Loyzaga noted that the Philippines is home to vast natural wealth, with over 30 million hectares of land, 220 million hectares of vibrant marine waters, and more than 56,000 species on land and sea.
However, she said Filipinos an immense duty to protect and use these natural resources wisely, especially as the country transitions to an inherent complex use of renewable energy.
“It is linked to the sustainable use of our natural resources: our waters for hydropower, heat from our earth for geothermal energy, the wind and sun for other sources of alternative clean energy, but the use of these energy resources are not without cost,” Loyzaga said.
She explained that the social and economic cost of clean energy must be accompanied by a just transition and the responsible and sustainable use of critical energy transition minerals.
A just transition focuses on ensuring that the shift to a low-carbon economy is fair and equitable, protecting workers and communities while creating green jobs and a sustainable future.
“As we celebrate Earth Day, we must be reminded that the journey to clean energy must be grounded on collective action. We must ensure that in this quest for resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development, there must be no one and no ecosystem left behind,” Loyzaga said.
Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about environmental protection and sustainability. (PNA)