(UPDATE) FOR her efforts to protect the environment, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has been recognized by Forbes as one of its inaugural 50 Sustainability Leaders.
Also on the list are mayors Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown, Sierra Leone; Anne Hidalgo of Paris, France; and Michelle Wu of Boston, as well as entrepreneurs, scientists, philanthropists, investors, politicians and activists from around the world.
“The 50 honorees recognized as Forbes inaugural Sustainability Leaders span industries and disciplines while all demonstrating exceptional ambition, innovation, and recent, tangible impact that are both scalable and sustainable,” Forbes said.
“This first class of Sustainability Leaders highlights individuals driving real and lasting impact. We honor them for their vision and stewardship of our planet and to showcase the creative, inspiring solutions they are leading from the lab to the boardroom,” it added.
The mayor said the recognition underscored QC’s efforts to combat climate change and its effects on its citizens and the environment.
“We are extremely honored to be part of this inaugural list. This further solidifies our commitment to combating climate change and its negative impact on the environment and our QCitizens,” Belmonte said.
This would also inspire the local government to continue discovering and implementing vital solutions that contribute to a healthier planet for current and future generations, she stressed.
“We have to act fast and decisively on this problem,” the mayor added.
In particular, Forbes hailed Belmonte’s decision, shortly after assuming the city’s top post in 2019, to place Quezon City, the most populous city in the country, under a climate emergency.
“That move allowed Belmonte to allocate 13 percent of the city’s budget (which has since increased) to climate initiatives to reach its stated goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050,” Forbes said.
It lauded the mayor for her various environmental initiatives, including doubling the city’s bike path network to 217 kilometers, electrifying its free bus service and adding solar panels to public buildings.
The mayor was also cited for banning plastic bags and single-use utensils, introducing a trash-to-cash back program, and establishing refilling stations for liquid detergent and other common household products.
In 2023, Belmonte was named United Nations Environment Programme champion of the Earth for Policy Leadership for her strong advocacy and campaign against the use of plastic.
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