The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in collaboration with the National Youth Commission, kicked off the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP) with selected higher education institutions (HEIs). The first session was conducted online and brought together participating students from partner institutions to learn, engage with experts, and connect with fellow young climate leaders.

MANILA, Philippines — The Climate Change Commission (CCC), in collaboration with the National Youth Commission (NYC), partnered with selected higher education institutions (HEIs) to pilot the Youth Climate Leadership Accelerator Project (Youth CLAP), providing participating students with opportunities to strengthen their climate knowledge, develop leadership skills, and explore practical ways to contribute to a more transformative climate action.

The pilot session, held virtually on 15 August 2026, brought students into an accelerated learning journey covering climate science, policy and governance, climate diplomacy, communications, innovation, and youth leadership, with activities designed to translate learning into practical climate action.

Youth CLAP was designed as a complementary and fast-tracked learning experience that provides selected university and college students with a common foundation on climate issues while allowing them to apply their knowledge to challenges within their institutions and communities.

Spanning four consecutive Saturdays at selected HEIs, the program combines four core modules and a Masterclass to help students engineer concrete climate solutions. It culminates in an Innovation Showcase where participants pitch their finalized proposals.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje emphasized bridging the gap between climate awareness and concrete, multidisciplinary action led by youth.

“There are students here from different institutions, disciplines, and communities. Meet them. Challenge one another. Borrow ideas. Improve them. Build friendships and partnerships. One of you may understand the science. Another may know how to build the technology. Someone else may understand policy. Another may know how to communicate the idea so that people actually listen,” Borje said.

“Very often, the solution is not sitting inside one person. It emerges when different people learn how to think and work together,” he added.

The initiative forms part of the CCC's continuing efforts to strengthen climate education and meaningful youth participation in the country's climate agenda.

During the program's Masterclass, Dr. Rodel Lasco, Executive Director of the Oscar M. Lopez Center, discussed the science of climate change and the role of nature-based solutions in adaptation.

Dr. Lasco emphasized the importance of grounding climate action in scientific understanding while recognizing the potential of nature-based approaches in helping communities adapt to climate risks. His session also highlighted the value of connecting climate science with practical responses that can be applied in local contexts.

“I hope we have seen that natural ecosystems are critical in enhancing climate resilience, the climate resilience of our people, especially the Indigenous Peoples,” Dr. Lasco expressed as his parting message.

Meanwhile, Dr. Emma E. Porio of Ateneo de Manila University led a session on youth action in the field, highlighting the importance of connecting climate knowledge with community realities and translating learning into meaningful engagement.

Her discussion emphasized that youth participation in climate action goes beyond awareness, requiring young people to engage with communities, work with different sectors, and contribute to solutions responsive to local needs.

“You have to know how you are balancing the ecosystem, because most of the time, we do not have appreciation. Our life depends on a balance, on an equilibrium within the planet, the Earth, and people,” Dr. Porio noted.

Both Lasco and Porio are former members of the CCC’s National Panel of Technical Experts (NPTE), bringing expertise in climate science, adaptation, and community-based approaches to the Youth CLAP learning experience.

Dr. Rodel Lasco is a Coordinating Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose work as part of the IPCC contributed to its recognition with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Emma E. Porio, Professor Emeritus at Ateneo de Manila University, is also an IPCC Lead Author, contributing to the IPCC’s work on climate change and cities, with expertise in urban resilience and sustainability.

The participation of experts from different fields reflects the multidisciplinary approach of Youth CLAP, recognizing that climate action requires more than scientific knowledge but also leadership, communication, and engagement with communities.

The CCC recognizes the important role of HEIs in creating spaces for climate learning, research, innovation, and youth leadership. Through their academic institutions and organizations, participating students can help bring climate knowledge and solutions closer to their peers and communities.

The initiative also supports the government’s broader direction of strengthening youth participation and climate resilience. The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2023–2050, developed under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., provides a long-term framework for building the country’s adaptive capacity and resilience. The NAP also recognizes the role of young people in shaping and implementing climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

The pilot initiative supports the CCC's broader efforts to promote climate literacy, strengthen multi-stakeholder participation, and provide meaningful avenues for young people to contribute to building a climate-resilient, safe, and sustainable Philippines.

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