BUSINESSWORLD FORUM BUSINESSWORLD FORUM SERIESSERIES

“Best Practices in Green “Best Practices in Green Economy”Economy”

Keynote Speech of Senator Loren LegardaBusinessWorld Forum Series26 November 2012, 9:00 a.m.

I laud BusinessWorld for this initiative, I laud BusinessWorld for this initiative, which has the potential of bringing which has the potential of bringing together players in the economic together players in the economic

sphere, academics, environmental sphere, academics, environmental advocates, and other stakeholders, to advocates, and other stakeholders, to

reevaluate our growth models and bring reevaluate our growth models and bring us closer to sustainable development.us closer to sustainable development.

Key Indicators Key Indicators for Asia and the for Asia and the

Pacific 2012 Pacific 2012

alarming alarming increase in increase in

carbon dioxide carbon dioxide emissions per emissions per capita by 2050capita by 2050

WORLD BANK The world is on a path to

becoming 4 degrees Celsius warmer by the end of this century, and that “current greenhouse gas emissions

pledges will not reduce this by much.”

30% of all species will face a high 30% of all species will face a high risk of extinctionrisk of extinctioncrop yield decline by 19% in Asia crop yield decline by 19% in Asia toward the end of the centurytoward the end of the centuryrice yield in the Philippines would rice yield in the Philippines would decline by 75%decline by 75%3 percent drop in the world’s GDP3 percent drop in the world’s GDP

As a nation, we have been engaging industrialized nations, through the annual climate change talks, to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions. And while we wait for their positive response, our government must undertake a concrete strategy to pursue a green and disaster-resilient development path.

Full implementation ofour major environmental laws

Philippine Climate Change Act of 2009Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010 Clean Air Act of 1999Clean Water ActSolid Waste Management ActRenewable Energy Act

But disaster risk reduction is everybody’s business.

• Clean new technologies• Energy efficiency measures• Corporate social responsibility

To improve the quality of life of the people and to build a sustainable and resilient human society.

Disaster risk reduction essentially means genuine development—development that is sustainable and economic growth that is resilient.

Now is the time to redefine development - to change our way of thinking and our way of doing, and give nothing less than our wholehearted commitment to a safer world a more resilient human society for many generations to come. 

Thank you