Liter of Light, a global solar lighting movement born in the Philippines, the Italian Embassy in Manila and the Italian Association of the Philippines (PIA) organized a “Climate Action Day” July 3-4 on 5th Avenue in front of the Philippine Stock Echange in Bonifacio Global City.

Coinciding with the International Cooperation Day on July 4, the Climate Action Day invited members of the private sector, organizations, individuals and residents of Bonifacio Global City to join the initiative and show their commitment to act against climate change.

The Climate Action Day was organized in partnership with the Italian Association of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, Fort Bonifacio Development Corp., Galleria Duemila, Rotary Club of Makati Business District 3830 and Philippines AirAsia, Chamber of Commerce Italian in the Philippines, Archipelago for you.

A socially remote workshop in the My Street High Street tent area was held to raise funds to provide clean and sustainable sources of energy to communities that have been affected by the lack of tourists due to the pandemic.

On the same day, Liter of Light unveiled a huge participatory solar art piece woven on 5th Avenue in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. The artwork, constructed using 1,500 handcrafted solar lights and assembled from home security for Liter of Light’s ‘Light It Forward’ challenge, featured a symbol for the goal of United Nations Sustainable Development (United Nations SDG) # 13: Climate action.

The artwork is the latest in a series of pop-up artworks that Liter of Light has built across Metro Manila to pay tribute and call for action to achieve the UN SDGs in the run-up to the Global Climate Change Conference (COP26) to be held in Glasgow, Scotland, in November. Liter of Light will attend COP26, as well as the special pre-COP26 program for young climate change advocates, Youth4Climate: Driving Ambition, hosted by conference co-organizer Italy in September 2021.

“More than ever, young people want the means to participate in creating climate solutions,” said Illac Diaz, Founder and Executive Director of Liter of Light. “We had the opportunity to activate the Filipino youth through our engagement during the pre-COP26 and COP-26 meetings. Through these works of art, we are making a strong statement to raise awareness for climate action by giving people the opportunity to contribute to real solutions and have a tangible impact, even at a time when public art has disappeared and where people are confined to their homes. “

“The Italian Embassy joins the Light it forward campaign to raise awareness of the biggest challenge of our time – climate change – and draw attention to the pre-COP26 and COP26 events that will take place later this year” , announced Eugeniu Rotaru, Deputy Head of Mission of the Italian Embassy in Manila.

“The importance of these meetings in Milan and Glasgow cannot be overstated: they will have to update the global framework on climate change that was agreed in 2015, in Paris, and lay the groundwork to protect our planet and generations. future in a spirit of ambition, sustainability and solidarity We believe that campaigns such as “Light it forward” are crucial to give Milan and Glasgow momentum and show the world the commitment of ordinary citizens, ordinary Filipinos , for a brighter and cleaner future, ”he added.

“The Light it Forward campaign will move Italy to the PreCOP26 event in Milan next September and the Italian community in the Philippines is united in giving their support,” added Alessandro Milani, CEO of the Italian Association of the Philippines.

“As PIA, we are very happy to support this campaign which is able, through public art, to bring people together for the defense of the environment and with the aim of giving the right to access an energy clean electric for those who need it most. For this, we warmly invite everyone to join the Light it Forward challenge, in time for our climate action day “

Liter of Light began its Light It Forward campaign (www.lightitforward.ph) in July 2020 with messages of hope to honor frontline physicians. Over the past year, his grassroots campaign has grown to mobilize thousands of young people across Metro Manila to take action against energy poverty and the 13 million Filipinos still without light, impacting the home security and gives these communities a new livelihood even in the midst of a global health pandemic.

The geography of the Philippines is one of the main factors most exposed to the effects of the climate crisis. The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons each year, with the intensity of these storms increasing exponentially in recent years, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Many young people are worried about the future, with billions of pesos in economic losses and thousands of lives already lost due to the effects of climate change.

Through large-scale participatory solar art that the organization will unveil at landmarks in Metro Manila, Liter of Light shows how local actions can amplify the voices of our youth to act on the SDGs.