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The Philippines celebrates April as “Month of the Planet Earth”. This year, it will be marked with a theme that rallies for sustainable and collective efforts to address climate change - “Earth Day Everyday for Climate Action”.

DENR VIII’s Regional Executive Director Tirso P. Parian, Jr. says the observance of Month of the Planet Earth is highlighting the most pressing issue on climate change which is also the center of this year’s global celebration of Earth Day on April 22.

“This celebration promotes working together and taking climate actions to address climate change which is the biggest challenge affecting the humanity and the planet upon which all life depends”, Director Parian says.

“We are all capable of taking climate actions which may refer to simple efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen adaptive capacity to climate-induced impacts”, he adds.

In responding to climate change, the DENR cites the current corona virus pandemic as a reminder for everyone that human’s treatment of the environment and natural resources affects his well-being.

To illustrate, the DENR emphasized that the ongoing COVID-19 global outbreak should serve as a stark reminder that illegal wildlife trade, which has been pushing endangered and vulnerable wildlife species toward extinction and biodiversity loss, has dire consequence for humans.

 In taking climate actions, the public is encouraged to take lessons from the quick and drastic measures undertaken by the communities and authorities to address the spread of the dreaded corona virus and improve health care.

“Earth Day Everyday for Climate Action” carries a message that addressing climate change quickly and drastically could also reduce food and water shortages, natural disasters and sea level rise, protecting countless individuals and communities (https:www.earthday.org). It also suggests that the sooner people mobilize for action, the less suffering will take place.

               April is recognized as “The Month of the Planet Earth” by virtue of Proclamation No. 1482 signed on April 10, 2008 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The proclamation takes note of the Philippine support for the global consensus on the need to protect and save the planet from environmental degradation and to ensure a sustainable future for all.