MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has called on 97 million Filipinos to close ranks and help mitigate the impact of global warming.

Aquino wants to rally the people in reducing carbon emissions and pursuing a lifestyle that is energy-efficient and produces less waste.

As the country’s climate czar, Aquino wants the entire country to lessen the already minimal contribution of the country to global heating, which stands at less than one percent.

He issued the call as the nation observes this year’s “Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week” from November 19-25, 2010 with the theme: “Nagbabagong Klima Labanan, Pagkakaisa’y Kabayanihan.”

“Let us maintain a responsible stewardship of our environment. I depend on the citizenry, especially the youth, to carry on their duties in our task, as one people, of preserving our environment.  With our collective efforts, we can take on the challenges of climate change head on,” the President said in his message for the celebration.

Mandated under Presidential Proclamation No. 1667, the observance of Climate Change Consciousness Week aims to educate the public about the deleterious impact of global heating, which is primarily caused by advanced industrialized countries led by the United States and newly-developed nations like China and India.

Aquino has placed climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction among his priority programs and asked the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to spearhead a national information campaign about the matter.

An “Inter-Faith Dialogue on Climate Change” with leaders of different churches led by Climate Change Congress of the Philippines (CCCP) co-convenor Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, S.J. of Cagayan de Oro, and Bishop Efraim M. Tendero, national director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), will be held to rally the religious and the laity to support the campaign.

The dialogue will be held on November 25 at Malacañang.

CCC leads the national organizing committee for the celebration, with the following as members: Departments of Education; Interior and local Government; Environment and Natural Resources; Foreign Affairs; Agriculture; Energy; Health; National Defense; Public Works and Highways; Science and Technology; Social Welfare and Development; Trade and Industry; Transportation and Communication; the National Economic Development Authority; National Security Council, and the Philippine Commission on Women.

Other activities lined up include exhibits, symposia, film showing, environment workshops, lectures and a live telethon over NBN channel 4’s Sining Gising TV program on Sunday, Nov. 28.

There will also be contests on poster making, on-the-spot painting, storytelling, jingle making, rap performances, and text-tula.

CCC has already formulated the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change (NFSCC) and is finalizing the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) to serve as the blueprint of all climate change adaptation and mitigation activities in the country.