July 17, 2026
In the grip of a struggling energy system and deepening climate threats, The Climate Reality Project Philippines gathered young leaders from across the country last July 7-9 for the first ever edition of REalTalk Youth—a hands-on workshop that honed their skills to develop community-based renewable energy (RE) programs.
Born from the REalTalk series that has already brought clean energy campaigning to diverse sectors nationwide, this youth-focused segment arrived at a critical moment.
“We’re here right now because we know that [the youth] possesses the creativity, the urgency, and the leadership needed to promote campaigns for renewable energy and community-based clean energy initiatives,” said Aimee P. Oliveros, Branch Manager of The Climate Reality Project Philippines.
A total of 17 participants attended the workshop, some of whom came from as far as Romblon and Davao. They were selected through a month-long screening process, chosen for their inspiring passion for community engagement.
Although hailing from diverse backgrounds and professions, the cohort didn’t take long to mesh well with one another. This spontaneous yet genuine connection made for an enjoyable learning experience for students alike.
“While enthusiasm and passion are of course a good start in this— of course, the knowledge, the networks, and the skills that they can pick up from a capacity-building initiative like REalTalk,” said Charles Jason Diaz, Senior Data Analyst from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities or ICSC.
The three-day workshop combined lectures and activities, with assistance from partner organizations such as Reboot Philippines, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), and 350 Pilipinas.
Speakers from these groups helped facilitate discussions on the Philippine energy landscape, established RE mechanisms, emissions monitoring, and community engagement strategies.
“Naniniwala akong importante ang aktibong pakikilahok at participation ng mga kabataan o youth at mga estudyante sa usapin ng enerhiya o energy dahil ito ay isa sa mga basic nating pangangailangan,” said John Anthony Jacob, Program Director at Reboot Philippines Renewable Energy Transition Institute.
(“I believe that the active participation of the youth and students in energy-related matters is important, as energy is one of our basic needs.)
All these sessions served as a foundation for a series of project proposal writeshops, wherein participants were asked to craft pitches for RE program ideas.
Each individual was given opportunities to consult with speakers and fellow participants to ensure their pitches reflected what they learned in the sessions– all the while still highlighting the youth’s unique take on just transition and RE.
At the end of the three-day workshop, the cohort was given the floor to present their pitches. Each ended in warm applause; all the presentations– though short and sweet— showed a lot of promise.
Participant Eleazar G. Anaya expressed gratitude for his new learnings about the climate and energy crises from the workshop, sharing how having like-minded peers made the rigorous process of project development easier to understand.
“Excited na ako bumalik sa community ko dahil alam kong mayroon akong maibabalik sa kanila— na mayroong programang tutugon sa krisis [sa kuryente at klima],” gushed Anaya.
(“I am excited to return to my community because I know I have something to give back to them—that there are programs that will address the [electricity and climate] crisis.”)
At the center of the discussions and activities is the need for the youth to take charge of climate action. More than a workshop to promote RE initiatives in their community, REalTalk Youth emphasized the need to tie all efforts to climate mitigation.
“People think that it’s complicated for the youth to participate, and I totally disagree with this notion because the youth are the ones [who are] more curious, more hungry to know more about how energy impacts them and how they can play a role,” said Climate Reality Leader Jonas Marie Dumdum.
Dumdum’s presentation revolved around greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting and how the youth can leverage data from that process to give credibility and foundation to their proposed RE programs.
A direct line connects global warming to the power sector’s fossil fuel dependency. In utilizing sources like natural gas, crude, and oil, the power sector produces huge carbon emissions that catalyze and worsen climate change— to the detriment of nations like the Philippines.
RE now becomes more than just an answer to constant power outages— and is now touted as a way to reduce the power industry’s carbon emissions and slow down global warming.
“Building a fossil-free future entails investing in leaders who will usher in this reality now. Trainings like this are critical because it entails facilitating the process of theory, action, and reflection that are needed to build the kind of future that is low-carbon, sustainable, and equitable for all,” shared Chuck Baclagon, Corporate Secretary of 350 Pilipinas.
Despite the Filipino youth’s disparate vulnerability to the climate crisis, their voices are seldom heard in spaces made for climate policy and decision-making. REalTalk Youth and other youth-focused initiatives from Climate Reality Philippines were designed to address that gap.
In the face of many barriers to their meaningful engagement in climate policy, youth organizations— like those represented by workshop participants— continue to fight for their voice to be heard.
Participant Joven James Bonjoc lamented how many Filipino youth grow up believing that discussions about energy are reserved only for scientists, engineers, and politicians. This contributes to the lack of inclusion of the youth voice in pertinent energy policy discussions.
“To address this, we need to stop seeing the youth as future leaders and start recognizing them as leaders today. We must invest in climate and energy education, create seats for youth in local decision-making, and support youth-led renewable energy projects that bring real solutions to communities,” added Bonjoc.
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