Filipino activist calls for climate action as Hagupit hits

AS HAGUPIT RAGES FILIPINOS CALL FOR ACTION AT LIMA CLIMATE SUMMIT

At the UN climate summit in Lima, Peru, a Christian Aid partner from the Philippines has called on negotiators to take action on climate change as Typhoon Hagupit bears down on his country.

Voltaire Alferez, National Coordinator for Aksyon Klima, said it wasn’t pity that he wanted from the world but action.

Hagupit, North to South 2

Image by Stuart Rankin

He said: “In the Philippines we no longer debate and deny the impacts of climate change because we are experiencing them every year.

"Last year Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 6000 people, devastated families, communities, farms, sources of livelihoods and was particularly damaging to the most vulnerable communities. 

"We were just beginning to get back on our feet after Haiyan and yet here we are again having to start from scratch.

"But it is not pity we want but action from leaders here at the climate summit. We need to see ambitious action to reduce carbon emissions and see proper adaptation support provided for vulnerable countries.

"As we speak people are paying for our leaders lethargy with their lives and livelihoods."

Ends

Notes:

1. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in around 50 countries at any one time. We act where there is great need, regardless of religion, helping people to live a full life, free from poverty. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance in tackling the root causes of poverty as well as its effects.

2. Christian Aid’s core belief is that the world can and must be changed so that poverty is ended:  this is what we stand for. Everything we do is about ending poverty and injustice: swiftly, effectively, sustainably. Our strategy document Partnership for Change (http://www.christianaid.org.uk/images/partnership-for-change-summary.pdf) explains how we set about this task.

3. Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development.  Further details athttp://actalliance.org

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5. For more information about the work of Christian Aid visit http://www.christianaid.org.uk