The Climate Change Commission joins the Centro Escolar University community in advancing climate change awareness and collective climate action.

MANILA, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) underscored the power of youth to drive climate action, highlighting the role of students and the academe at the 119th Foundation Anniversary Convocation of Centro Escolar University.

The discussion centered on the convocation theme, “Innovative Approaches to Mitigate Climate Change and Global Warming,” and highlighted the role of academic institutions as critical platforms for advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 and embedding climate action into education systems and campus initiatives.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized that the youth are not merely beneficiaries of climate policy, but active agents in shaping a climate-resilient future.

He stressed that the academe remains a cornerstone in cultivating the knowledge, values, and leadership necessary to confront the climate crisis.

“Every lecture, every research endeavor, and every meaningful exchange within our academic institutions helps shape the future of our nation. It is through education that we cultivate the critical thinking, innovation, and collective resolve needed to confront the climate crisis and secure a more resilient future for all,” Borje said, underscoring the transformative power of education in driving long-term, systemic change.

Borje emphasized that the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation Plan (NDCIP), developed under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., serve as national frameworks guiding the youth and academic institutions in their climate initiatives, strengthening resilience and pursuing a low-carbon future.

Dr. Teresa R. Perez, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs of Centro Escolar University, reaffirmed the institution’s role in shaping responsive and forward-looking societies.

“As a university, we have a unique responsibility. Universities are not merely centers for instruction; they are generators of ideas, incubators of innovation, and catalysts for social transformation,” Perez said.

Meanwhile, Borje also underscored the broader civic purpose of education, noting that it must instill a deep sense of responsibility toward both present and future generations.

“Education, therefore, is much more than preparation for employment. It is preparation for citizenship. Citizenship is not simply the exercise of rights; it is the acceptance of responsibility for a future we will never experience alone,” he added.

After the convocation, the CEU also launched its electronic waste bin as one of its newest initiatives to promote sustainability and proper waste disposal.

The event gathered CEU faculty, students, and staff, with participants from a public livestream through the Facebook page, reflecting a unified academic community committed to advancing climate action and sustainability.

The CCC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with academic institutions to deepen climate literacy, promote evidence-based policymaking, and empower the youth as central actors in advancing a resilient, low-carbon, and sustainable future.

For more information on the CCC’s climate mainstreaming programs and partnerships, visit www.climate.gov.ph and www.facebook.com/CCCPhl.