Rizal province holds youth climate summit

Around 100 youth leaders in Rizal province gathered to discuss the basic concerns of climate change and to find a way to respond effectively to the challenge of climate crisis.

Dubbed as Provincial Climate Youth Conference, the event was organized by the Rizal Provincial Government in partnership with Antipolo Youth Alliance, Climate Change Commission and The Climate Reality Project.

Although the youth can hardly be blamed for the climate crisis the world is experiencing, they are the ones who will suffer the future consequences of climate change, according to Rodne Galicha, Country Manager of Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore’s The Climate Reality Project (TCRP).

“They feel inconvenient and they see the need to act and pressure the elder ones to be true [to] their commitments and responsibilities for the present and next generation, hence, climate justice for the young ones,” he stressed.

As inconvenient youths, the young generation’s fresh understanding of the basic science of climate crisis and its impacts will lead to a unique force of change to make their future convenient in harmony with the environment, Galicha continued.

For his part, Rizal Governor Casimiro Yñares III dared the youth to take active roles in the community to respond to the challenges posed by the global climate crisis.

"I hope someday, you will take active roles in the community in collective steps in combating the adverse effects of climate change by responsibly using your skills, zeal and creativity," he said in his opening message.

The governor expressed hopes that the young generation of Rizaleños will serve as unique changing force to face the climate crisis.

According to Mark Lester Delgado, an officer of the Antipolo Youth Alliance (AYA), a large percentage of Rizal population is composed of youths which can work together, take action and make a change for a better future.

“The young people of Rizal have significant roles to play in the climate issue because they are one of the most vulnerable yet active and dynamic to help building disaster resilient communities,” he said.

The youth conference also served as a prelude for the upcoming national youth gathering that will seek for the formulation of a national climate change youth agenda.

“This event is an opportunity for the young people to voice out their opinions, perspectives and sentiments on what has been happening and what needs to be done to solve the climate crisis,” Pebbles Sanchez of Climate Change Commission (CCC) said.

Ms. Loraine Gatlabayan, of CCC’s Division Chief for Information and Knowledge Management, who also graced the event, stressed that youth climate advocacy is a priority of the Commission thus its willingness to support climate change initiatives of the youth.

“We encourage other provinces in the country to replicate Rizal’s provincial climate change conference and the Climate Change Commission is willing to assist,” she said.

The climate change conference served as venue for young people to talk about the climate realities and challenges of the province.

Next month, a series of activities that will lead to a national event as part of the observance of the National Climate Change Consciousness Week will be launched by the Climate Change Commission, The Climate Reality Project, government agencies and non-government organizations.

For more information on the national conference, please contact the Climate Change Commission’s Pebbles Sanchez:pebbles.sanchez@climate.gov.ph