Senator Loren Legarda has long been hailed as a “Green Crusader” for her staunch advocacy of environmental issues and concerns. As a legislator, she co-authored the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8947) and sponsored the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003). She also advocated for the clean-up of toxic wastes in the former US bases in Subic and Clark and made representations to the US government for the condonation of Philippine debt in favor of environmental programs under a “debt-for-environment swap” scheme. In 1998, Loren established Luntiang Pilipinas to help raise the level of awareness on the value of trees by the public.

For her passion and concern for the environment, Loren was chosen as one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow (GLTs) for the year 2000 by the World Economic Forum. In 2001, Legarda was elected to the prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honour by the United Nations Environment Programme. In 2004, she became an Awardee for the Environment by the Priyadarshni Academy in India for her exemplary contributions to the environmental cause.

During the 3rd Asian Ministerial Conference at Kuala Lumpur in 2008, Legarda was appointed as UNISDR Asia Pacific Regional Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, for her persistent advocacy to advance the disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation agenda.

Aware of the continuing decline of the state of Philippine environment and of its harmful effects to the health and security of the Filipinos, Loren has taken on the lead in the awareness campaign on climate change and its harmful effects. She delivered privilege speeches in the Plenary Hall of the Senate, entitled “CPR For Mother Earth” and “An Agenda for Climate Change Adaptation” as part of the said information campaign. Her speeches, converted into lectures, are now being distributed to public schools nationwide in the hopes of stirring the youth into action and enjoining them to contribute in caring for the environment.

As an ecological warrior, Loren vows to continue her crusade to protect the environment and our natural resources. With your help, she hopes to achieve a more healthful ecology and a safer environment for the younger and future generations of the Filipino people.