Mayor Joy Belmonte highlighted how cities like Quezon City are initiating impactful climate solutions, as she represented cities and regions worldwide during the sixth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya.
In her speech, she stressed that national governments should work closely with cities, as local authorities implement and cascade these initiatives to the communities. Resources and financial support should also be made accessible for them to effectively implement the programs in the grassroots.
The mayor also expressed the need for subnational government involvement in implementing Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). It is also imperative for local leaders to be given a platform to actively participate in future UNEA resolutions and other environmental initiatives.
Mayor Belmonte was chosen as the UNEA-6 Cities and Regions Summit Rapporteur to raise the stakeholders’ concerns to UNEA, the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.
