PARIS - Former chief climate change negotiator at UNFCCC COPs, Vice-Minister and Climate Change Commissioner of the Philippines, Yeb Sano has arrived in Paris, after trekking 1500kms through Italy, Switzerland and France.

  He resigned from the Philippine civil service in April 2015 to become leader of the People’s Pilgrimage, a venture initiated by the global interfaith campaign for climate action Our Voices.

  Speaking to reporters in St Peter’s Square prior to the start of the walk, Yeb stated the pilgrimage "is a signal to the world's government meeting in Paris that we, the people, want action on climate change. We are following the inspiring leadership of His Holiness the Pope given in his recent Encyclical Laudato Sii, which calls for a rethinking of our economic system to protect creation and eliminate poverty."   

  “I did not want to go on being a cog in the machine”, Yeb told France24 TV in an interview “but live my Catholic faith by joining civil society action. I am bringing a message of hope of  people around the world for a climate deal which meets the urgent challenge we face in all its aspects.”

  Yeb’s accompanying group of 18 pilgrims of different ages, nationalities, professions left St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City on September 30, was welcomed in nearly 40 small towns and cities on the way, sleeping in churches, gymnasia etc and receiving meals and logistical support from local religious, environmental groups and citizens.

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