(from left) Quezon City Councilor and Chairperson of Committee on Environment and Climate Change Adaptation Vito Sotto Generoso; Quezon City Vice Mayor GIan Sotto; British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils; Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; and C40 Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania Milag San Jose-Ballesteros during the launch of the Climate Action Implementation on 11 August 2022 (Photo from Quezon City Government Facebook page)
The Quezon City local government in the Philippines, in collaboration with C40 Cities and through the support of the United Kingdom government’s UK Aid, has launched a new environmental action plan that aims to address the city’s climate crisis on 11 August 2022.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the launch of the Climate Action Implementation (CAI) program alongside Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, C40 Regional Director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania Milag San Jose-Ballesteros, city officials, and other stakeholders. The event signals the official participation of Quezon City as one of the 14 cities in Southeast Asia, Africa, and Latin America to be part of the CAI program.
“The CAI will definitely expedite the city’s climate action initiatives as we aspire to be the leading city in advancing inclusive, ambitious, and evidence-based climate actions in the Philippines to provide a livable and quality community for all,” said Mayor Belmonte.
The four-year CAI is part of the Urban Climate Action Programme funded by the UK Government. From 2022-2025, C40 and Quezon City will work together toward the implementation of high-impact actions based on the city’s local climate change action plan (LCCAP). The comprehensive technical assistance will prioritize policies and actions related to energy efficiency and renewable energy in government, commercial, and residential buildings.
Some of the facilities to be solarized through the program include public hospitals, public schools, and the city hall. Other sustainability initiatives to be implemented include the extension of the city’s bike lane network and the creation of more walkable corridors.
The CAI will help facilitate the city’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
In 2021, C40 and ICLEI assisted Quezon City in the enhancement of its LCCAP, where the city’s short-, mid-, and long-term emission reduction targets were defined through an inclusive and participatory process.
“I vow on behalf of the people of Quezon City to deliver the climate targets in our enhanced LCCAP. We will lead by example. We will earn our place as a model for other cities to emulate. We will exert all efforts to help bring forth a far better planet than the one we were born into, for future generations to enjoy, long after we are gone,” concluded Mayor Belmonte.
In a previous statement, Mayor Belmonte said that the city’s focus on climate action in its priority agenda is a clear declaration that the climate emergency exists. Proof-positive of its climate priority is the creation of the Philippines’ sole Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department which addresses and advocates for climate justice.
Quezon City is an active member of international local government networks taking bold steps to mitigate climate change, including ICLEI – Local Government for Sustainability and C40 Cities.
