Climate crisis tackled in national youth forum

More than 200 Filipino children and youths from across the country gathered recently for a national forum to address the issue on climate change.

The youth workshop dubbed as Pinoy+Youth+Power in a Changing Climate was part of the National Climate Change Consciousness Week with the theme ‘Creating Convergence on Climate Change’.

The climate forum aimed to mainstream the participation of Filipino young people and children in addressing the challenges of the climate crisis.

Nobel Laureate and former United States Vice President Al Gore lauded the youth forum saying that ‘it is events like yours today that will empower our youth to reach new heights and take on the challenge of climate change.’

‘As you know very well, climate change will have significant impact on the Philippines. It’s important for young people to learn about the science and prepare to action. As an island nation, you are vulnerable to rising seas, intense storms, and the loss of ocean resources that provide food and economic opportunities to all Filipinos,’ explained Gore in a message sent for the national gathering.

Gore heads the global climate campaign The Climate Reality Project that has more than 5 million members and supporters worldwide.

Commissioner Lucille Sering, Vice-Chairperson of the Climate Change Commission said the Commission makes it a priority to involve young people since they are “more vulnerable to the effects of climate change in which they face today making their future at stake.”

The young delegates had a series of workshops and interactive inputs enabling them to understand the basics of climate science, simple solutions and advocacies to secure their future.

They discussed and approved a national youth climate change agenda to mainstream their significant participation in implementing the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP).

The Climate Reality Project’s presenter and international environment youth speaker Alec Loorz of Kids vs. Global Warming and Hamzah Ramadhan of Inconvenient Youth Indonesia shared their climate crisis advocacies through less-carbon video messaging and online video conference.

'Indeed, the young people are vulnerable to the effects of climate crisis which may burn their future. It is their future which is at stake and together through this event, they would be able to mold this future and make the world a better place to live in,' said The Climate Reality Project's Philippine District Manager Rodne Galicha.

Held November 22 at the SMX Mall of Asia Convention Centre in Pasay City, the national youth workshop was part of the first carbon neutral event in the Philippines.

The event was organized by the Climate Change Commission in partnership with Al Gore’s The Climate Reality Project, National Youth Commission, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation, Council for the Welfare of Children, UNICEF-Philippines and USAID-Philippines. (CBCPNews)