April 14, 2025
“The global sustainability revolution is unstoppable, and it’s unstoppable because of advocates like you and the millions of people around the world demanding stronger, more ambitious climate action.”
No less than former US Vice President and The Climate Reality Project Founder Al Gore said these inspiring words, welcoming the participants of the Climate Reality Project Leadership Corps Training in Bacolod City.
This event is part of The REALITY® Tour, The Climate Reality Project’s global initiative to build momentum for bold climate ambition ahead of the United Nations’ climate summit in Brazil in November 2025.
Designed as a training to build foundational knowledge, skills, and network to generate collective action to support effective and urgent climate action, the event trained over 90 new Climate Reality Leaders poised to drive climate action in their communities.
Building movements from the grassroots
The newly-minted leaders are now part of a 3.5 million-strong global network of supporters and catalyst for change spanning 190 countries. Over 2,000 members of this global community belong in the Philippines, driving meaningful change across various sectors.
Fresh from a record-breaking typhoon season and now facing the rising temperatures of summer, the Philippines is no stranger to the impacts of climate change. Training Filipinos for climate action, therefore, makes perfect sense. Who else should lead the charge against the climate crisis but the ones most deeply affected by it?
Former US Vice President and The Climate Reality Project Founder Al Gore leads the session with a discussion on the global climate crisis
“We gather today with a shared purpose: to empower you—passionate Filipino climate advocates— equipping you with the essential tools and strategies to drive real and lasting change in your communities,” said Aimee P. Oliveros, Deputy Branch Manager of Climate Reality Philippines.
Among hundreds of applicants, only a handful were chosen to participate in the leadership training. That final roster of trainees came from a wide demographic— ensuring that the Filipino’s diverse experience of the climate crisis was well-represented.
“Being part of a global movement [like the Climate Reality Leadership Corps] provides an opportunity for a new perspective, listening to other people’s experiences, and deepening understanding of emerging climate-related issues,” said Theresa Mae Auman, one of the new Climate Reality Leaders.
Auman is one of the many government workers in attendance who chose to expand their service to the Filipino people through climate action. Among her co-trainees were fellow government workers, as well as students, teachers, researchers, and journalists.
More than a discussion of inclusivity, trainees were selected based on their potential as movement builders and leaders in their communities, especially those bearing the highest risk to climate impacts.
This made for rich, engaging discussions in every table– grounded by Climate Reality Leaders serving as mentors to the participants.
Leading Filipino experts sit down for a panel discussion on climate action founded on science and justice
“One of the highlights of being a mentor in the Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training was witnessing people from diverse backgrounds come together in pursuit of a common goal– a better reality for us all. The climate crisis is an intersectional and cross-cutting issue that goes beyond the environment. It impacts various aspects of society, requiring a holistic approach to address it effectively.” said Stefanie Chan, Mentor and Youth Cluster Coordinator for the Climate Reality Philippines’ Cluster System.
As established Climate Reality Leaders from varying fields, the mentors helped guide the trainees in connective local realities to global issues. Mentors shared their own journey in climate work, drawing from their experience as climate leaders across different sectors.
Grounding global realities to local capacities
In his signature presentation, Mr. Gore shared the latest updates on the worsening climate impacts across the planet via a pre-recorded video from the Paris leg of The REALITY® Tour.
More than the impacts, Mr. Gore also gave hope in his presentation, showcasing innovative solutions to global warming, and highlighting the urgent need for action and the pathways toward a just, sustainable future.
“Use your voice, use your vote, use your choices. Speak truth to power like your world depends upon it— because your world does depend upon it,” said Mr. Gore in his Truth in Ten presentation.
Trainees create a sensory map illustrating their experience with climate change and their hope for a better reality and future
Overwhelming as it may seem at first, a global look at climate change gave participants a sense of not being alone. The pivotal point of the presentation was that despite the scale of the crisis, there is a growing collective effort to address it; part of this initiative is the Climate Reality Leadership Corps itself.
Mr. Gore’s presentation was then supplemented by powerful panel discussions led by established climate experts in the country. Connecting science with arts, policy, and justice, the discussions showcase the many ways climate change affects Filipinos. Climate justice was often mentioned in these conversations, which highlight how the climate crisis disproportionately affects communities with the least contribution to it.
One of the speakers in the panel discussions was Atty. Rachel Anne Herrera, Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission. Representing government initiative in curbing global warming, Atty. Herrera underpinned the need to integrate justice in climate policy.
“[For the Climate Change Commission] climate justice is really the heart of climate action, because it’s about fairness and equity. It’s about sharing the benefits and burdens— when we have climate initiatives, they should have benefits for the community and the environment; and the burdens must be paid by the ones driving climate change],” said Atty. Herrera.
Passing the torch lights the way
The day ended with a ceremonial pinning of the green ring, a symbol of a Climate Reality Leader’s commitment to empower a global cultural movement demanding immediate action on the climate crisis for a sustainable future for all.
The trainees — now Climate Reality Leaders— were overjoyed when they received their pins. Their pins mark a new chapter in their climate work, their horizons expanding to a global scale.
New Climate Reality Leaders receive their green pins from their co-trainees; green pins symbolize the Leaders’ commitment to the global climate action movement
This moment was made even more meaningful as it coincided with Climate Reality Philippines’ transition in leadership. Then Branch Manager Nazrin Camille D. Castro delivered her final message in the role, leaving behind a legacy of people-centered climate leadership.
“Climate Reality Philippines is already much stronger than it was yesterday because of all of you today. I trust and believe that you will all help in making this community continue to grow, thrive, and create lasting impact in the years to come,” said Castro, addressing the new Climate Reality Leaders in her parting marks.
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