Everybody knows about the three Rs—reduce, reuse and recycle. But given the recently published IPCC Sixth Assessment Report-Working Group II and the protests from climate scientists worldwide, it is clear that we need to go beyond waste management and assiduously step up our efforts to combat climate change.

The Lopez Group has been heeding the call to go beyond sustainability since 2020, when First Philippine Holdings Corporation president and chief executive officer Federico R. Lopez announced the group’s new mission: “To forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future.”

Not even a global pandemic could prevent Lopez Group employees from spreading awareness and engaging the public in environmental conservation activities during the first run of their Environment Month celebration in 2021.

Opportunity to redesign

With the success of the 2021 event, the Lopez Group is commencing its second collaborative Environment Month celebration this June, themed “Recovery, Resilience and Regeneration.”

As we begin to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we are given an opportunity to redesign and promote practices that would allow us to move towards a resilient and regenerative future.

Engaging events and activities are lined up for the monthlong celebration which is spearheaded by ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan (AFI-BK), Energy Development Corporation (EDC), First Balfour, First Gen Corporation, Lopez Group Foundation Inc. and OML Center.

The Lopez Group Environment Month will provide exciting avenues for stakeholders, including employees and family members, to take regenerative action as we recover from the pandemic and address the climate crisis. Redesigning the new normal while addressing climate change seems daunting and challenging, but the Lopez Group Environment Month celebration hopes to impart the message that participating in the movement could also be made fun, engaging and meaningful through collaboration.

OML Center

The activity lineup includes both virtual and face-to-face activities. OML Center’s Kaalamang Klima online watch party kicks off the celebration on June 1 with virtual viewings of “Mga Kwento ng Klima” together with trivia games for those who are looking to be entertained while learning about climate action.

EDC

EDC BINHI’s Philippine native trees art workshop featuring illustrator Cynthia BauzonArre will devote several sessions to EDC’s flagship flora species throughout the month of June.

First Gen

First Gen will hold a virtual “Amazing Race” with teams taking on different challenges as they learn more about climate change and how they can join the Lopez Group’s efforts to address its effects on the Philippines.

AFI-BK

For those who are itching to spend time outdoors with family and friends, there’s AFI-BK’s La Mesa Ecopark Music Festival on June 5. Attendees should prepare themselves for a day of music featuring performances from acoustic bands, string quartets, ethnic traditional musicians and more.

First Balfour

As a culminating activity, there will be a simultaneous tree and mangrove planting across different areas, including La Mesa Watershed, Lagadlarin Mangrove Forest and First Balfour sites in Sorsogon, Leyte, Albay, Kidapawan, Ilocos and Batangas. In addition, First Balfour will hold a coastal cleanup at its Batangas site.

The trees planted during the culminating activity will be registered on EDC’s BINHI CommuniTree, an online platform that promotes tree-growing activities among EDC and Lopez Group employees and partner organizations. The platform tracks tree-planting initiatives in real time and automatically calculates the equivalent amount of carbon sequestered.

Join the Lopez Group Advocacy Community Facebook Group for more information and updates on the Environment Month activities (Story/Photos by: Soleil Acu)