World leaders, local and national leaders should come up with a strong policy to protect humankind now or climate change will take its toll.

Bohol Climate Walkers comprising 16 young Boholanos issued the warning and made a statement in walking 99 kilometers, passing the coastal area through 11 towns from Tagbilaran City to Anda in three days.

In the group were Alma Aparece, 
April Monte de Ramos Aquino, Beryl Elizabeth Guday, Edeliza Macalandag, Fred Jordan Carnice, Jammy Ungab, 
Jessie James Rollorata, Ludwig Bon Quirog, Marjune Placencia, Mark Steward Moring, Marlon Abucejo, Mehul Dabhi, Melody Redillas, Noelyn Dano, Richard Jeanjaquet Jr., and Sherwin Sandulan.

They called on “world leaders to come up with a strong climate agreement in the Paris Climate Conference (COP21)”.

“With this 99-km walk, that spans 11 towns and this city, we also urge local governments in Bohol to make bold political decisions and commit to reducing emissions through climate-friendly policies, and in partnership with the private sector, invest and implement innovative solutions that promote clean energy and efficient consumption, as well as call on the Boholano community in general to foster sustainable livelihoods and lifestyles,” according to the group.

Bohol Climate Walkers warned that islands like Bohol would lose much “as the changing climate exposes us to rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, bringing in stronger and more frequent typhoons and heat waves”.

Islands like Bohol would lose much “as the changing climate exposes us to rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, bringing in stronger and more frequent typhoons and heat waves”, the group warned.

The 16 environmental activists called their solidarity walk “Bagtas Lunhaw: Bohol Climate Walk 2015, a pilgrimage for climate action”.

They assembled at Plaza Rizal in Tagbilaran City and left at 3 p.m. on November 27 and reached Anda Public White Beach at 1:22 a.m. on November 30 in time of the 152^nd birth anniversary of Filipino hero, Andres Bonifacio, and the start of the climate talks in Paris.

The Bohol Climate walkers also urged officials to pursue 100-percent clean energy by avoiding coal as energy source.

They intended to “echo the global call of the people’s pilgrimage for 100-percent clean energy”.

In a position statement furnished to the Chronicle, the walkers said “they’re advocating for Bohol’s conversion to renewable sources of energy.

“It’s time to transition to clean energy alternatives that could meet all our energy needs without the danger of running out or harming all life on the island. Solar, wind, or hydro, Bohol’s potential for a clean and efficient energy system is boundless,” the statement says.

The Bohol Climate Walkers called “on the government and the private sector to support and invest in 100-percent clean energy.”

“This expedition is registered with the People’s Pilgrimage, a worldwide movement of people—of all faiths and none—who are taking their own journeys, big and small, to visit the places at the heart of the climate crisis at risk or affected already, or places that demonstrate inspiring solutions for a fossil-free future. It, however, remains independent and non-aligned, mostly self-funded, and partially supported by friends of the Bohol Climate Walkers. Similar walks calling for climate action are currently going on worldwide to coincide with the start of the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP21, the annual meeting of all countries for the climate, which, this year, takes place in Paris, France on November 30 to December 11,” according to the Bohol Climate Walkers.

Their counterparts also did climate pilgrimages in Negros Island, Cebu, Albay, Manila, Mindoro and other areas of the Philippines, upon the move of Naderev “Yeb” Saño, “former climate envoy of the Philippines.

Saño, “spearheads the main pilgrimage – a historic 1,500-kilometer walk from Rome, Italy to Paris, France. The People’s Pilgrimage is launched by Our Voices, a multifaith climate network”.