By Perfecto T. Raymundo, Jr.
QUEZON CITY — The Quezon City Women in Climate Action Summit with the theme” We Think Green” was held on Tuesday (March 25) at the Quezon City M.I.C.E. Center, Quezon City Hall Compound here.
In her speech, Mayor Josefina “Joy” G. Belmonte said that the event is not just personal to her, noting that the rising heat index has reached 42 degrees.
She stressed that women in marginalized sectors lose income due to heat.
More than a million children are affected by the rising temperature hence women stay at home.
She cited climate-related events such as the onslaught of Typhoon Carina.
“There is no climate justice without gender justice,” Belmonte said.
“Women are leading climate solutions in Quezon City,” she added.
Belmonte stressed that 65% out of 43,000 urban farmers are women.
“We don’t just talk about representation–we live it,” she said.
“Kailangan talagang dapat sa tahanan natin nagsisimula ang pagbabago, which is the City Hall,” she added.
“This event is not only making policy for everyone with women in mind but is making better policy for everyone,” Belmonte said.
“This is our space. This is our fight. And this is our time,” she added.
Athena Denise Galao, Programme Coordinator for Gender and Climate Action of UN Women in Asia Pacific, said that women are not the victims of climate change but they are the leaders.
Galao cited Typhoon Ondoy in 2009 where women were there and took active action in helping those affected by the extreme weather event.
She noted that everytime women were out of the country and attended international conferences, they were told that there are no gender equality questions on climate change.
Galao cited that out of 78 leaders in an international conference, only 6 talked about gender equality on climate change, and 4 of the 6 were women.
She thanked Quezon City “for raising me”, noting that Quezon City has 142 barangays.
A commitment signing ceremony pushing for gender responsive climate action was also held as a powerful symbol of collaboration and shared responsibility.
Mayor Belmonte, Galao, Majority Floor Leader Councilor Doray Delarmente, among others, signed in the commitment pledge as empowered change makers.###
