Baguio cites Carling for UN Earth Award

By Gaby Keith

BAGUIO CITY – For winning the 2018 United Nations Champions of the Earth Award for Lifetime Achievement, the city congratulated and commended Joan Carling for her work as one of the world’s most prominent defenders of environmental and indigenous rights.

       This was stated in city council resolution number 362, series of 2018, passed jointly and collectively by the local legislature and signed by Mayor Mauricio Domogan.

       The Award is the UN’s highest environmental recognition celebrating exceptional figures from the public and private sectors including civil society, whose actions have had a transformative positive impact on the environment.  This year’s laureates are recognized for a combination of bold, innovative and tireless efforts to tackle some of the most urgent environmental issues at present.

        A Kankana-ey from Sagada and resident of Baguio, Carling is an indigenous rights activist and environmental defender who has been defending land rights from grassroots to the international level from more than 20 years and has faced threats against her life and security.

       “Ms. Carling is recognized with the lifetime achievement award for her work as one of the world’s most prominent defenders of environmental and indigenous rights.  She has been at the forefront of the conflict for land and environment for more than 20 years,” the resolution states.

       It pointed out Carling’s tireless and selfless fight for the environment  “has made her a champion of peoples and communities all over the globe.”