Senator Legarda Advocates for Cultural Preservation in Climate Action

Senator Loren Legarda has issued a clarion call to climate-vulnerable nations, urging them to reevaluate outdated policies and embrace a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to climate action that safeguards not only lives and livelihoods but also cultural identity, history, and heritage. Addressing the Climate Vulnerable Forum and V20 Finance Ministers (CVF-V20) meeting on July 14, 2025, Legarda emphasized that climate change represents a multidimensional threat, particularly for countries at the forefront of the climate crisis.

"Climate change endangers all that you see and so much more: it imperils not only lives and livelihoods; it threatens to erase who we are," stated Legarda, a four-term senator and long-time climate advocate (GMA News Online, July 14, 2025). Her remarks underline the need for risk assessments to transcend mere economic and infrastructural considerations. Instead, she posits that these assessments must encompass the cultural well-being of affected populations, taking into account ancestral homes, sacred sites, and time-honored traditions.

Legarda pointed to alarming economic forecasts, suggesting that extreme heat could result in losses as significant as 466 billion Philippine pesos annually by 2030. Beyond these financial implications, she underscored the intangible costs associated with the loss of cultural heritage, forced displacements from ancestral lands, and the gradual erosion of social cohesion derived from shared traditions. She articulated a vision where preserving cultural memory and indigenous knowledge is integral to climate resilience.

"As legislators, we are more than mere policymakers; we are the stewards of our nation's future," Legarda proclaimed. She called for laws that reflect an unwavering commitment to intertwining climate action with cultural preservation.

The Climate Vulnerable Forum, which includes 74 countries such as Bangladesh, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Barbados, and the Philippines, is actively developing Climate Prosperity Plans (CPPs). These plans aim to harness renewable energy, nature-based solutions, and financial innovation to promote inclusive development and bolster climate resilience. The Philippines, a founding member of the V20 group, has devised its own Climate Prosperity Investment Memorandum that aligns climate objectives with economic growth, a clean energy transition, and local adaptation efforts.

Legarda, who is recognized as the principal author of the landmark Climate Change Act and a champion of the People’s Survival Fund, urged her fellow lawmakers to prioritize the implementation of the country’s Climate Prosperity Plan. "Let our collective efforts safeguard our precious cultural treasures, empower our resilient communities, and build a sustainable future for all Filipinos," she concluded.

This emphasis on cultural preservation amid climate action is critical as nations navigate the complexities of climate change and its far-reaching impacts on both tangible and intangible heritage. As global discussions continue, the integration of cultural considerations into climate strategies may serve as a vital framework for fostering resilience and sustainability worldwide.