Farmers under the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and its affiliates will join the scheduled Global Climate Strike in time for the closing activity of the Conference of Parties (COP27) being held in Sharm, Egypt. “We are nearing the point of irreversible impact of this global threat of climate change.

“We join the oppressed peoples of the world in the united call for climate justice. The world’s most marginalized sectors both from the Global North and Global South are bearing the brunt of the current climate emergency. The voices of farmers, fisherfolk, workers, indigenous people, and other sectors who are on the frontlines of the environmental and climate crises are not represented in the ongoing COP27 meetings. On November 12, we will speak out and raise our demands for urgent climate action,” according to KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.

“The DENR is saying that addressing the impacts of climate change is at the forefront of the priorities of Marcos Jr administration. However, DENR is also the same agency that approves permits for projects destructive to the environment. Such projects include reclamation, mining exploration, and mega-dams construction, among others. These projects pursued under Marcos Jr.’s Build Better More program will further contribute to the plunder of our environment and natural resources,” Ramos said.

KMP is one of the signatories to the Open Letter to the Philippine Delegation to COP27. (Read the open letter here: https://www.agroecologyx.com/post/open-letter-to-the-philippine-delegation-to-the-27th-session-of-the-conference-of-the-parties)

In the said appeal, sectors stressed the need to invest in long-term resilience-building, strengthening local capacity, implementing pre-emptive action, and developing sustainable food systems to counter the climate crisis and other future shocks. “Agroecology is a proven adaptive strategy to strengthen stability and resilience of food production systems, in the face of extreme events due to climate change,” the letter stated.

Studies prove that food systems are both impacted by and major contributors to climate change. Food systems contribute more than a third of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) causing climate change. Reducing them is essential to any mitigation effort. Likewise, climate change and severe weather, pests, and diseases are already threatening the production of food. Unless we act decisively, these problems will worsen, and the poorest and most vulnerable will suffer.

Scaling up agroecology will foster the creation of food systems that emit less carbon and preserve biodiversity. KMP said some of the benefits of agroecological ways of farming include the following:

1. Creation of resilient, fertile, and more carbon-absorbent soils.
2. Efficient reuse of water and natural manure.
3. Growing healthy and nutritious food.
4. Increasing crop yield, stimulation of the local economy, and fair pricing
5. Increasing the capacities of small-scale farming communities, and
6. Addressing the loss of livelihood, poverty, and food insecurity amongst the most vulnerable populations.

The program of the Global Climate Strike to be held in Quezon City on Saturday will feature creative visuals bearing the demands of sectors most affected by climate change.

“We invite all environment-loving individuals to join the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice. There is no Planet B. We must act now to preserve our environment,” the KMP leader said. ###