SM Supermalls push for climate change action

As a member of United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - ARISE International and as the secretariat of the UNISDR - ARISE Philippines, SM Supermalls seek to educate, create awareness, and emphasize action points within the private sector and other key stakeholders to ensure contributions for COP21 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in mitigating climate change while strengthening disasters risk resilience with sustainable solutions.

In the past years, the SM Green Retail Agenda has focused more on climate change mitigation and on adaptation particularly on Business Continuity Management. This year, they are initiating support for the agreement in COP21 and the SDG of United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 21 or CMP 11 was held in Paris, France from November 30 to December 12, 2015. The expected key result by the organizing committee was an agreement to set a goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 °C compared to pre-industrial levels.

On December 12, 2015 the participating 195 countries agreed by consensus to the final global pact, the Paris Agreement, to reduce emissions as part of the method for reducing greenhouse gas. At the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit on September 25, 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and tackle climate change by 2030.

A Call for Action
This year, with the rising in the average temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects, the SM Green Retail Agenda's (GRA) theme is “A Call for Climate Change Action.”

SM City Iloilo Mall Manager Engr. Gilbert Domingo (inset) welcomes participants to the 7th Green Retail Agenda.

The Sustainability Department of SM Supermalls encouraged mall branches all over the country to conduct their respective annual GRA. SM City Iloilo held its 7th GRA last July 28, 2016.

During the event, the roster of speakers focused on energy conservation, disaster risk resilience, preparedness, tools and best practices to strengthen and empower the retail business and community amidst natural disasters. 


(L-R) CENRO’s Ronnie Bolivar, Alex Jardiolen, PSWRI’s Rudgie Dolar receiving certificates of recognition from SM City Iloilo PR Manager Troy Camarista and Foodcourt Manager and GRA 2016 in-charge Keitel Ravana.

Mr. Ronnie Bolivar and Mr. Alex Jardiolen of the Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) talked about Mitigation, Adaptation and Action for Climate Change while Mr. Rudgie Dolar of Philippine Spring Water Resources Inc. shared their corporate best practices.

The Green Retail agenda was attended by SM City Iloilo mall tenant representatives.

Comments