January 4, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines should address this year the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity, according to Sen. Loren Legarda.
“As we enter 2025, we must recognize that the triple planetary crisis is no longer an abstract concern. It is happening now and it is deeply interconnected with our daily lives and future prospects,” Legarda said.
Plastic pollution in the Philippines, she said, reached alarming levels, wherein each Filipino consumes an average of 20 kilos of plastic annually.
Of that amount, Legarda said 15.4 kilos end up as waste, making the country the leading contributor to ocean plastic waste globally, accounting for 36 percent of total pollution.
Air pollution is also an issue, as the country ranked 79th among 134 nations in air quality in 2023, she noted.
“The effects of pollution and climate change are visible across the country. From intensified typhoons and flooding in Metro Manila to prolonged droughts in the provinces, these are not isolated incidents, but consequences of our environmental degradation,” she warned.
Businesses, communities and the government must collaborate and Filipinos should be proactive in protecting the environment, she noted.
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