The Climate Change Commission, in partnership with iAcademy, lead an art exhibit entitled, Ctrl + S Now: A Print Exhibition on Climate Change Awareness and Action during the 12th Annual Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week. The exhibition featured 30 curated climate-related posters with an accompanying brochure of iAcademy's senior high school students that highlighted the youth's modern solutions to the climate crisis and demands for urgent and ambitious climate actions. [Photo from iAcademy's Facebook Page.]
 

MANILA, 28 April 2020 – Reiterating the need to advance the cause of a better planet amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) renewed its commitment to promote climate change education and youth empowerment in the country.

The CCC echoed the pronouncement of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat on the significant role of the youth in climate action, saying that young people are key actors in raising climate change awareness, promoting sustainable lifestyles, conserving nature, and implementing adaptation and mitigation projects.

The youth’s ability to find new pathways for climate action was in full display last year, the CCC noted, as the movement #FridaysForFuture started by youth climate change activist Greta Thunberg gained support from millions of people across the globe.

In September 2019, more than 7.6 million people participated in the Global Climate Strikes, making it one of the largest coordinated global protests in history. With the support of 73 trade unions, 820 civil society organizations, and 3,000 companies, the movement was able to mobilize 6,100 events across 185 countries.

Thousands of students and climate change advocates in the Philippines joined the movement as they demanded governments around the world and the private business to pursue climate justice.

To sustain this momentum, the CCC said it will engage more institutions from the private business sector and civil society in its ongoing initiatives for the youth. These include the Annual Climate Science Youth Congress, which showcases the innovative researches of young scientists on climate change adaptation and mitigation, and this year’s launch of the Klima Film Festival which taps into the creativity of the youth to advocate for climate action through film.  

In November 2019, the CCC forged cooperation and partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Academy (iAcademy) on promoting climate change advocacy in the youth sector.

According to the CCC, pursuing convergence between government and non-government institutions will help bridge the gap between climate science, policy, and practice.

With most of the country still under the enhanced community quarantine due to Covid-19, the CCC urged climate change advocates to be more creative in raising awareness and demanding action to address the prevailing climate emergency.

The CCC said that the voice of the youth is important in setting the stage for a green recovery that will make the country’s health, economic, and social systems more resilient to pandemics and climate change.