Addressing the impact of climate change l New Day

Summary

In celebration of Earth Month, Greenpeace Philippines' country director Leah Guerrero discusses the urgent need to combat climate change by transitioning to renewable energy. She highlights the Philippines' transport and energy sectors as major carbon emitters and emphasizes the link between human health and environmental well-being. Guerrero encourages individual actions like reducing plastic use and active transport, while stressing the importance of collective action to push for systemic change through government policies and corporate practices.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Earth month in April highlights environmental protection efforts, with Greenpeace Philippines leading the charge.
• 🚫 The rampant use of fossil fuels is identified as the main driver of accelerated climate change.
• ⏳ There is a critical window until 2030 to decarbonize and prevent the worst impacts of climate change.
• 🇵🇭 In the Philippines, the transport and energy sectors are the largest contributors to carbon emissions.
• 🌿 The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness about the connection between human health and the health of the planet.
• 🚲 Active transport and creating greener spaces are examples of how communities are responding to environmental challenges.
• 🌱 Greenpeace encourages a collective shift towards renewable energy and decarbonization to build a 'better normal'.
• 🔄 Reducing plastic use and consumption are individual actions that contribute to environmental protection.
• 🤝 Greenpeace emphasizes the importance of collective action to influence government and corporate policies for systemic change.
• 📢 The interview concludes with a call to action for individuals to join movements demanding environmental accountability from authorities and businesses.

Q & A

What is the main goal of Greenpeace Philippines?

The main goal of Greenpeace Philippines is to pave the way for a greener and more peaceful world by addressing the factors that threaten the environment.

What is identified as the primary cause of accelerated climate change according to Leah Guerrero?

The primary cause of accelerated climate change, as identified by Leah Guerrero, is the rampant use of fossil fuels.

What is the critical timeframe mentioned for decarbonization to avert the worst impacts of climate change?

The critical timeframe mentioned is the next nine years, before the window of 2030 is closed, to ensure global temperatures are kept below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Which sectors in the Philippines contribute the most to carbon emissions?

In the Philippines, the transport and energy sectors are the biggest contributors to carbon emissions due to their high use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected people's attitudes towards environmental health?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more careful and mindful about their health and the environment, leading to increased awareness about the relationship between people's well-being and the planet's health.

What positive environmental changes were observed during the early stages of the pandemic?

During the early stages of the pandemic, lockdowns globally led to cleaner air due to reduced transportation and fossil fuel usage, such as diesel for cars.

What are some of the actions people took to improve their environment during the pandemic?

People took actions like creating bike lanes and greener spaces, reimagining a better world where they could live alongside nature while taking care of it and still enjoying economic benefits.

What role does Greenpeace believe each individual can play in building a better normal?

Greenpeace believes that each individual can help build a better normal by reducing reliance on fossil fuels through active transport and other means, as well as engaging in collective action to influence government and corporate policies.

Apart from active transport, what are some other individual actions suggested by Greenpeace to reduce environmental impact?

Some other individual actions suggested by Greenpeace include reducing plastic use, which also comes from fossil fuels, and reducing overall consumption.

Why does Greenpeace emphasize the importance of collective action alongside individual actions?

Greenpeace emphasizes collective action because individual actions alone are not sufficient; systemic solutions driven by government regulations, policies, and corporate practices are needed to create a significant energy transition and combat climate change.

What is the message from Greenpeace Philippines' director, Leah Guerrero, regarding the urgency of environmental action?

Leah Guerrero emphasizes the urgency of environmental action, stating that if everyone speaks loudly enough, people in power will be forced to listen and take action towards decarbonization and environmental protection.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Addressing Climate Change with Greenpeace Philippines

In this segment, the discussion revolves around Earth month and the critical role of organizations like Greenpeace Philippines in combating environmental threats. The country director, Leah Guerrero, highlights the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, emphasizing the importance of decarbonization before 2030. She points out that the transport and energy sectors are the largest contributors to carbon emissions in the Philippines due to their reliance on fossil fuels. The conversation also touches on how the COVID-19 pandemic has made people more conscious of their health and the environment, leading to initiatives like creating bike lanes and greener spaces. Guerrero stresses the significance of individual actions, such as reducing plastic use and consumption, but also the necessity for collective action to push for systemic changes in government regulations and corporate practices.

05:01

🗣️ Collective Action for Environmental Change

The second paragraph continues the conversation with Greenpeace Philippines' director, Leah Guerrero, who encourages collective action to demand changes from governments and corporations towards decarbonization. The discussion emphasizes the power of people's voices when they unite to effect change, suggesting that if the public speaks loudly enough, decision-makers will be compelled to listen. The segment concludes with a thank you to Guerrero for her insights and for representing the environmental cause, wrapping up the interview on a positive note that underscores the potential for a better normal as society moves forward.

Keywords

💡Earth month

Earth month, celebrated in April, is a time dedicated to environmental awareness and action. It is a period when organizations and individuals focus on activities that protect the environment. In the script, Earth month serves as the backdrop for the discussion on environmental protection, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts during this time to address environmental issues.

💡Greenpeace Philippines

Greenpeace Philippines is a local branch of the international environmental organization Greenpeace. It is mentioned in the script as one of the leading organizations in the fight to protect the environment. The script highlights the group's mission to pave the way for a greener and more peaceful world, which is central to the video's theme of environmental conservation.

💡Climate change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. It is a significant theme in the script, with the interviewee discussing how human activities, particularly the use of fossil fuels, adversely impact the climate. The script emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change to prevent its worst impacts.

💡Fossil fuels

Fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are non-renewable energy sources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. The script identifies the rampant use of fossil fuels as a primary cause of accelerated climate change, linking this to the need for a shift towards renewable energy sources.

💡Renewable energy

Renewable energy sources, like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, are sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. The script discusses the importance of a massive uptake of renewable energy to decarbonize and mitigate the effects of climate change, illustrating the transition needed for a greener future.

💡Decarbonize

Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing carbon emissions to a net-zero level. In the script, the concept is tied to the紧迫性 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially within the next nine years before 2030, to keep global temperatures below the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold.

💡Transport and energy sector

The transport and energy sectors are highlighted in the script as the biggest contributors to carbon emissions in the Philippines due to their heavy reliance on fossil fuels. This underscores the need for sector-specific solutions to reduce emissions and transition to cleaner energy practices.

💡Pandemic

The script references the COVID-19 pandemic as a time when people became more mindful of their health and the environment. The lockdowns during the pandemic led to cleaner air due to reduced transportation and fossil fuel use, demonstrating the potential for positive environmental changes when human activities are altered.

💡Active transport

Active transport, such as walking or cycling, is mentioned as one of the easiest ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The script suggests that individual actions like choosing active transport can contribute to building a better normal, emphasizing the role of personal choices in environmental protection.

💡Collective action

Collective action refers to the coordinated efforts of groups of people to achieve a common goal. In the script, the interviewee from Greenpeace emphasizes the importance of individuals coming together to demand systemic changes from governments and corporations. This highlights the video's message that individual actions, while valuable, are most effective when combined with broader societal efforts.

💡Decarbonize

Decarbonization is the process of reducing or removing carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere. The script discusses the need for systemic solutions to decarbonize, such as government regulations and corporate practices, to address climate change effectively. This keyword is reiterated to stress the urgency and scale of the action required.

Highlights

Greenpeace Philippines aims to address environmental factors that threaten the planet.

The rampant use of fossil fuels is identified as a major contributor to climate change.

A shift to renewable energy and decarbonization is crucial before 2030 to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

In the Philippines, the transport and energy sectors are the biggest contributors to carbon emissions.

The pandemic has made people more mindful of their health and the environment's health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the link between human well-being and the planet's health.

Lockdowns during the pandemic led to cleaner air due to reduced transportation and fossil fuel use.

People are reimagining a better world where they can live alongside nature and still benefit economically.

Active transport is one of the easiest ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Reducing plastic use and consumption are also emphasized as individual actions to combat climate change.

Greenpeace encourages collective action to pressure governments and corporations for systemic change.

Individual actions are important, but systemic solutions driven by government and corporate policies are needed.

People are encouraged to join calls and actions demanding governments and corporations to decarbonize.

The interview concludes with a call for unity in demanding environmental protection and change.

Transcripts

[Music]

foreign

[Music]

as we celebrate Earth month this April

we talk to organizations that are

leading the fight to protect our

environment Greenpeace Philippines is

one of them the group aims to pave the

way for a Greener and more peaceful

world by addressing the factors that

threaten the environment Paolo Abreva

recently spoke to its country director

Leah Guerrero and she told them about

practices that adversely impact climate

change

what is accelerated climate change is

our rampant use of fossil fuels

um so that is the problem that we have

right now and unless we shift to a

massive uptake of renewable energy and

ensure that we decarbonize in the next

nine years before the window of 2030 is

closed then we could uh by then avert

the worst impacts of climate change and

keep global temperatures below 1.5

degrees so in the Philippines

um the biggest contributor to carbon

emissions are the transport and energy

sector because these are the sectors

that use the most uh fossil fuels and

emit the most greenhouse gas emissions

right something could be a little more

concerned about obviously now there

during this time of the pandemic people

are definitely more careful and mindful

when it comes to our health we're we're

trying to eat better we're trying to get

our exercise we're trying to make sure

that we get our sun but really we should

be also looking at minding the health of

the planet and the environment how

important is it that we pay closer

attention to the environment which

actually protects us from you know

Health harms if we can call it that

yeah um I think what uh the covet crisis

uh the covet pandemic showed us

um is how people people survival

people's well-being

um is very much linked to the planet I

mean it's something that we've forgotten

um in the past decades

um we've always thought that the planet

was there for us to exploit and just to

use the resources without thinking about

the limits

um that it has but because of kovid

people have been more aware I think

about the relationship between

People's Health and well-being and the

well-being of the planet so we've seen a

lot of efforts for example especially

during the beginning of the pandemic

when people saw that uh you know the the

lockdowns throughout globally the

lockdowns have uh have made air cleaner

because of the lack because

Transportation uh was not uh as widely

used as before people weren't using

fossil fuels diesel to drive their cars

Etc

um and when people saw that it was

possible to create that uh kind of

better scenario for all of us

um they came together and thought of how

else can we move this forward for

example with bike Lanes with Greener

spaces Etc and they're reimagining a

better world where

um we could live alongside nature taking

care of Nature and still

and still have uh economic benefits for

people it really does make sense now

along those lines uh Leia Greenpeace

believes that each and every one of us

can help build not just a new normal as

you know that's a term that we Bandy

about uh quite regularly now but I think

you you'd prefer to call it a better

normal as we move forward you already

mentioned that you know active transport

is one of the easiest ways that we can

reduce our Reliance on fossil fuels what

are some of the other tips or ways I

mean we're really as an organization I

think you're talking about big making

big moves and and Broad strokes but each

and every one of us has a role to play

here

um what what are some of the other

things that we can look at as

individuals apart from you know looking

at maybe active transport and that sort

of thing a few other tips maybe before

we go uh in terms of what we can be

doing as individuals

um at the individual level

um then maybe it's reducing plastic use

plastic also comes from fossil fuels and

so on and reducing consumption in

general but what Greenpeace would like

to emphasize is that um as individuals

we could also go get together in

Collective action to get the government

and corporations to change to to create

an energy transition because the

solutions individual action is good but

the solutions need to be systemic and

these need to be solutions that are

driven by government regulations

government policies and changes in

corporate practices so we really also

encourage people to get together and

join the calls join the the actions that

are demanding governments and

corporations to change and decarbonize

right well definitely if we all speak

loud enough

um definitely I think people will be

forced to listen thank you for being the

voice for so many and thank you so much

for your time this morning that was

Greenpeace Philippines director Leia

Guerrero thank you for joining us right

here on your day