Author: climaterealityph

#MoveTogether Iloilo: Active mobility promotes climate justice and lessens road disparity

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date November 3, 2023

#MoveTogether Iloilo: Active mobility promotes climate justice and lessens road disparity

November 3, 2023

Iloilo City—Active and sustainable mobility is integral in addressing the gaps in the Philippine transport system and in ensuring a just low-carbon transition. This was highlighted during #MoveTogether, an advocacy and movement building workshop on sustainable urban mobility held in Iloilo City last October 25.

#MoveTogether was organized by The Climate Reality Philippines in partnership with the City Government of Iloilo, the Iloilo City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and Iloilo Folding Bike Riders (iFOLD). It mobilized cycling and active mobility advocates from Luzon and Visayas to support the call for local and private sector leaders to prioritize the needs of the majority of Filipino households that do not own private cars.

Philippine transport and mobility issues

A recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that in every four household-owning bicycles, only one owns a car.

In her presentation during the workshop, Chiara Veronica Señires, the Online Community Administrator of Pinay Bike Commuter Community, highlighted the current car-centric mobility system in the country’s metropolitan areas, which compromises the commuting experience of Filipinos, including bicycle commuters.

Arielle Celine Tabinga, National Coordinator of the Mobility Awards, agreed that safety remains a paramount concern for cyclists, especially since cities in the country lack secured and adequate bicycle infrastructure.

Participants also shared the inconvenience of public commuting in the country citing immense traffic, expensive fare costs, disconnected transport systems, and air pollution as among the most pressing transportation and mobility issues.

“Despite these hazards and car-centric infrastructure, people still need to move around to go to places. And so, people continue to walk, use public transportation, and ride bicycles and e-scooters,” Señires said during her presentation.

Cesar Carlito Baclagon, Regional Finance Campaigner of 350.org in Asia, agreed that more people resort to active mobility like cycling and walking as a cost-effective mode of transportation that makes commuters less vulnerable to volatile fossil fuel prices and offers an agile and efficient way to maneuver through traffic.

Evidence-based urban mobility planning

Mobility Awards throughout the years have made efforts to provide empirical data for urban mobility planning and investment programming by counting bicycle commuters on the road.

Tabinga presented the results of Bilang Siklista 2023 during the #MoveTogether session. This year’s bicycle count reported a total of 147,800 cyclists across 17 cities.

“The bicycle count project aims to provide more evidence to support the urgent need to invest in better bicycle infrastructure throughout the country as more and more Filipinos are relying on bicycles,” Tabinga explained.

She added that the bicycle count had significant contributions in guiding the planning and implementation of national bicycle programs of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Moreover, the initiative encouraged further research to strengthen claims on inclusive mobility.

Co-benefits of active mobility

More than the social and economic benefits, active mobility also yields positive impacts on climate and the environment.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), transportation is responsible for 37% of global carbon emissions.

“Modernizing our transport system is more than just upgrading the type, engine, and fuel of vehicles. It’s about enhancing urban mobility conditions by providing safer, cleaner, cost-effective options to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions,” Baclagon said.

Promoting smart, inclusive, and active mobility

On the second day of #MoveTogether, participants were given the opportunity to experience cycling through the bicycle lanes along Iloilo City’s Esplanade and University Loop. The participants witnessed how these lanes were strategically established along universities, leisure parks, and other public areas to encourage bicycle commuting.

Señires encouraged participants to demand more of these people-centric road infrastructures from their respective local governments. Tabinga also emphasized the importance of active citizenship in this movement.

***

active mobility, energy transition, Mobility Awards, sustainable transport

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Blog Post

From the perspective of the climate-vulnerable: Wins and losses at the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date October 26, 2023

From the perspective of the climate-vulnerable: Wins and losses at the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the IMF

October 26, 2023

Climate-vulnerable countries have lost an estimated 525 billion USD over the past two decades due to climate change limiting economic growth, hampering development gains and making it harder for communities to thrive. This daunting reality is compounded by rising external debt—a total of 686.3 billion USD in 2020 for 55 vulnerable economies.

Despite already struggling to repay their existing debts, climate-vulnerable countries will need to spend more than 2.4 trillion USD every year starting in 2030 to address climate change and transform their energy systems. In developing countries like the Philippines, the climate crisis is a debt crisis. Without urgent climate action and debt reform, the cost of capital and debt will continue to rise to unsustainable levels.

In this context, climate advocates participated in the 2023 Annual Meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in the hopes of finding a path forward to address the intertwined climate and debt crises.

Here are a few highlights from the conference, including stories of wins and losses in our call for global finance architecture that is aligned with our climate goals:

World Bank’s new vision-mission

On October 12, the World Bank’s Board of Governors endorsed the new vision of the World Bank: To create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. The bank also adopted a new mission to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.

This is an excellent starting point but these moves should be underpinned by policies aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement.

In several dialogues during the conference, civil society actors reiterated the need to implement a comprehensive and robust policy that bans all direct and indirect financing of fossil fuel development, infrastructure, and promotion.

Building new fossil fuel infrastructure is not only a waste of resources. It may also leave Global South nations with expensive assets stranded by the net-zero transition. We emphasized that the World Bank must further acknowledge the impacts of its energy investments, especially in reducing electricity costs as a means to vitalize economies.

In a recent town hall discussion with civil society organizations at the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, World Bank President Ajay Banga defended the institution’s continuous funding of fossil gas projects, citing the need for fossil gas as a transition fuel to replace coal in baseload generation.

However, in a town hall discussion with civil society organizations, the World Bank President, defended the institution’s continuous funding of fossil gas projects, citing its supposed role as a transition fuel to replace coal in baseload generation for underserved communities.

What he failed to recognize is that the rapidly changing energy landscape is demanding a move away from the outdated baseload model towards a more agile and responsive approach, powered by clean energy and energy storage technologies. A more flexible electricity grid, combined with demand response efforts, clean energy, and energy storage, is more resilient and affordable than a grid that heavily relies on baseload power.

The World Bank simply cannot illustrate climate change as a mere “trade-off” because climate-resilient and the low carbon transition safeguards economic and social development.

Finance Ministers and High-Level Representatives of the V20, G7, and G20 countries Heads of International Financial Institutions, Multilateral Development Banks, and Partners joined the 11th Ministerial Dialogue of the V20 Finance Ministers on October 15.

Making debt work for climate

The V20 Finance Ministers, a dedicated, action-oriented, solutions-driven platform of finance ministers of 68 climate-vulnerable countries, emphasized that “aligning the financial system to serve the most vulnerable is not only pivotal for those least responsible and most exposed to the climate crisis but also imperative for global shared prosperity and stability.”

In its 11th Ministerial Dialogue last October 15, attended by IMF Managing Director Dr. Kristalina Georgieva, officials of the World Bank and other multilateral development institutions, and the finance ministers and high-level representatives of the V20, G7, and G20 countries, the group urged the immediate alignment of the global financial system with climate science and climate policy through the Accra-Marrakech Agenda while advancing other critical reform solutions in the Bridgetown Initiative 2.0.

Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, V20 Chair and Minister for Finance of Ghana, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and World Bank Senior Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg during the V20 Ministerial Dialogue XI.

Climate-vulnerable economies need to find ways to pay for the changes that need to be made to deal with climate change. We can’t just cut spending, because that would hurt people and economies. Instead, we need to find new ways to raise money to make the changes they need to make without having to go into too much debt.

The V20 Finance Ministers called for the global financial system to move from conventional austerity-based approaches to resource mobilization-driven approaches that prioritize climate action, help countries overcome costly capital hurdles to low-carbon and climate-resilient investments, provide pre-arranged and trigger-based funds, and enable debt sustainability.

Nazrin Castro, Branch Manager of The Climate Reality Project Philippines, delivered an intervention during the roundtable discussion “The Road Ahead for International Development Association (IDA) – A Conversation with Civil Society Partners” held on October 10.

Financing loss and damage

Financing future loss and damage caused by climate change could amount to 150 billion and 300 billion USD per year by 2030. It is critical to create a loss and damage fund that is fair, inclusive, fast, and responsive to the needs of communities that need it most.

As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Loss and Damage Fund take shape in the lead-up to the 2023 United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP 28), governments and climate advocates from vulnerable nations emphasized in Marrakech the role of the IMF in addressing loss and damage.

Given the IMF’s mandate to maintain global financial stability and its macroeconomic expertise, the V20 Finance Ministers stressed the need for the IMF to integrate loss and damage into its surveillance functions, lending toolkit, and capacity development activities.

The Climate Reality Project Philippines, in particular, underscored that one good option to ensure the scale and access for the loss and damage fund is through an IDA-like window for Loss and Damage that can support delivery into social and financial protection systems.

Giving vulnerable groups more seats at the table

Another critical point of discussion in the conference in Marrakech was the need to transform the IMF’s governance structure to better represent its membership.

Dr. Georgieva, herself, acknowledged this and talked about adding a third Chair for Africa to the IMF Executive Board and the possibility of making the V20 an official IMF group, alongside G7, G20, and G24.

“The V20 nations, while collectively accounting for more than one-fifth of the world’s population and 44.7% share of IMF programs, find themselves underrepresented with just 5.3% of the institution’s votes. V20 ministries have considerable expertise that the IMF should benefit from given country experiences regarding the interconnections of climate, debt, and development.”

– Ken Ofori-Atta, V20 Chair and Ghana Minister for Finance

The V20 Group is calling for a reform of the global financial system that empowers developing economies to achieve prosperity and debt sustainability amid the climate crisis.

While the official recognition of V20 in the IMF is still up in the air, Ivan Machado Oliveira, Deputy Secretary of the Finance Ministry of Brazil, the chairperson of the G20, invited the V20 to have a seat as a guest to the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group.

All roads now lead to COP28

The World Bank and IMF meetings in Marrakech offered a glimpse of hope, but more needs to be done to address the intertwined climate and debt crises.

For climate vulnerable countries like ours, merely surviving the climate crisis is not enough; the aim is to thrive in a rapidly warming climate.

We look forward to COP28, where more discussions about the future of climate action will take place.

***

This blog was originally published at Climate Reality’s main website. Learn more about Climate Reality’s Financing a Just Transition global campaign here.

climate finance, imf, loss and damage, world bank

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Bike count results show urgent need for improved mobility infrastructure

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date October 9, 2023

NATIONWIDE BIKE COUNT RESULT PRESS CONFERENCE / OCTOBER 09, 2023. Bilang siklista, nationwide bike count result press conference at Pino restaurant Diliman, Quezon City. PHOTO / Leo M. Sabangan II.

Bike count results show urgent need for improved mobility infrastructure

October 9, 2023

Quezon City—The Mobility Awards calls for the urgent improvement of transport infrastructure in Philippine cities, making it safer and more inclusive to the mobility needs of cyclists, pedestrians, and commuters, as they launched the findings of this year’s nationwide bike count program.

A total of 147,800 cyclists were recorded by 817 volunteers through the Bilang Siklista Bike Count project. In its third year of implementation, Bilang Siklista conducted counts in 17 cities across the country, during a 4-hour peak time in the morning and afternoon, on seven different weekdays in June and July. This year’s findings showed a decrease in the number of cyclists, compared to the recorded 191,578 cyclists in 2022.

“The decline in the number of cyclists have been attributed by volunteers to unsafe road conditions, including deteriorating conditions of bike lanes and encroachment of motorists in designated bike lanes; the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on public transport; and the continuous rains that poured on the days of the count. However, Quezon City and Mandaue City emerged as exceptions as they recorded an increase in number of cyclists compared to previous counts done by the Mobility Awards; this was attributed to consistent improvements in their bike lane infrastructure and programs,” said Mobility Awards National Coordinator Arielle Celine Tabinga in a press briefing today.

“The increasing number of cities participating in the count showed that more cities are embracing the potential of cycling as a daily transport option, and are recognizing the importance of data on road users, including the cycling public, to inform road improvement projects such as bike lanes. The growing number of volunteers who showed up to count people on bicycles is a testament that they too want to do their part in helping their city’s bike lane projects succeed and make wise use of public investments for bike lanes,” Tabinga added.

Bilang Siklista also examined how much carbon emissions are avoided and savings are generated in terms of fuel costs for 147,800 people on bicycles. Results showed that per kilometer travelled, 147,800 cyclists helped reduce 36.74 metric tons of carbon emissions, and save up to PHP 615,207 worth of fuel.

The report also revealed persistent disparities in cyclist demographics. Similar to last year’s data, the gender gap remains substantial, with females comprising only 4 percent of the total cyclists.

“We encourage other cities and local governments to systematically count all road users, not only motorized vehicles, but also cyclists and pedestrians. This should be an integral part of cities’ transport and infrastructure monitoring systems that would better inform their local transport and investment planning ,” said Aldrin Pelicano, MNL Moves founder and one of the convenors of the Mobility Awards.

Prior to the launch of Bilang Siklista findings, a survey released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed that one out of three households in the Philippines, amounting to around 10 million households in total, own at least one bicycle. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also released the results of a year-long bike count they conducted in 2022, where over 1.7 million bicycle trips were recorded along Ortigas Avenue, Quirino Highway, and Commonwealth Avenue.

“Manual counts, such as Bilang Siklista, are not perfect data collection tools, and can be further complemented by smart technologies already available. Cities can always mobilize the power of their own citizens and volunteers to help generate data, especially if manpower resources are missing,” Pelicano added.

***

ABOUT

Bilang Siklista is a citizen-led bike count initiative organized by the Mobility Awards, which is convened by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), The Climate Reality Project Philippines, MNL Moves, 350 Pilipinas, and Pinay Bike Commuter Community, along with with 27 regional partners and the League of Cities of the Philippines.

This year’s count is the third installment of the bike count program – the first volunteer-led bike count was held in 2021 covering Metro Manila cities, and expanded its reach to 10 cities across the Philippines in 2022.

ACCESS TO FINDINGS

Visit mobilityawards.ph/bilangsiklista2023 to access the full report. You may also access the rest of the presser materials here.

active mobility, Mobility Awards, sustainable energy and mobility

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Climate Reality PH builds momentum for GEOP implementation in Mindanao

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date September 28, 2023

Climate Reality PH builds momentum for GEOP implementation in Mindanao

September 28, 2023

Cagayan de Oro City—Energy campaigners from Mindanao bank on the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) to yield cheaper electricity costs and higher share of renewable energy in the region’s power mix.

Climate Reality Philippines concluded the Mindanao leg of its REalTalk regional workshops on 21-24 September 2023 in Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental. The workshop, organized in partnership with AktivAsia Philippines and supported by the City Government of CDO and Greenergy Solar Philippines, produced 27 campaigners who developed campaign plans in support of GEOP in the region.

Pressing energy issues in Mindanao

Renewable energy, specifically hydroelectric power, had dominated the power generation in Mindanao until 2014. Coal and oil-based power plants have since seized the lead in the power mix up to the present.

“We lost renewable energy right before our eyes. In 2005, zero coal. By 2017, coal was 52 percent. Mindanao right now is 68 percent fossil fuels and 32 percent renewable energy,” said BenCyrus Ellorin of the City Government of CDO and the Mindanao Renewable Energy Acceleration and Coordination Hub (MinREACH).

This energy scenario confined end-users to fossil fuel-based energy, which generated issues on affordability and reliability. Expensive electricity rates and frequent power outages were cited as the most pressing energy issues in Mindanao.

Ellorin also linked energy issues with poverty incidence across the region. Energy-deficient communities, such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), struggled to provide accessible electricity for its constituents.

Advancing renewable energy in Mindanao through GEOP

“We want to support efforts to bring back renewable energy in the region. We believe that GEOP can be a vehicle for that goal. [The] GEOP allows entities to switch to renewable energy without capital costs,” said Ian Soqueño, Energy Campaign Lead of The Climate Reality Project Philippines.

The GEOP, created through the Renewable Energy Act, allows end-users with an average consumption of 100kW and above to choose renewable energy as their source of power. The mechanism aims to provide cheaper electricity rates and promote energy independence among consumers.

With GEOP set to launch in Mindanao in the coming months, REalTalk builds the momentum for renewable energy and GEOP in the region. The training produced seven regional campaigns aiming to engage and influence business entities and local government units to participate in the program.

Supporting GEOP is among the ways to increase renewable energy in the power mix of Mindanao. Higher demand for renewable energy from the public and private entities invites more energy players in the scene.

Engaging more energy players in the GEOP campaign

REalTalk Mindanao also had the opportunity to visit Greenergy Solar PH, based in CDO, where participants learned more about the relevance of renewable energy developments in empowering local communities. The company has been active in the promotion and development of renewable energy power generation in the Mindanao region since 2008.

The GEOP was seen to be a stepping stone for many entities to cut on power costs in order to generate savings, and eventually, be energy self-reliant through solar installation and other systems.

***

energy transition, green energy option program, mindanao, renewable energy, sustainable energy

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Climate Reality PH to hold Mindanao Leg of REalTalk in CDO

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date September 19, 2023

Climate Reality PH to hold Mindanao Leg of REalTalk in CDO

September 19, 2023

The Climate Reality Project Philippines (Climate Reality Philippines) is set to hold the Mindanao leg of REalTalk: A Movement Building Workshop on Renewable Energy in Cagayan de Oro City on 21-24 September 2023 to mobilize energy advocates in support of the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) in the region.

REalTalk is a training program focused on raising energy literacy and building a movement on just transition to renewable energy. Following the three-day virtual REalTalk sessions held in March 2023, regional trainings were conducted to mobilize nationwide campaigners in support of GEOP. The regional workshops are organized in partnership with AktivAsia Philippines, a non-profit organization composed of educators and facilitators who support organizers and activists in Asia win energy campaigns.

“REalTalk continues to produce and mobilize campaigners who can champion the movement towards just renewable energy transition. We recognize the potential of Mindanao to take lead in this transition with its abundant hydroelectric resources across the region,” said Nazrin Castro, Branch Manager of The Climate Reality Project Philippines.

The Luzon and Visayas legs of REalTalk were held in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and Ormoc City, Leyte, respectively, and produced GEOP campaigners across the regions. The upcoming Mindanao leg will have more advocates undergo sessions on campaign elements and tools, as well as leadership skills to support GEOP in the region.

In January 2023, the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM)—the market where energy is traded as a commodity—was launched in Mindanao. Energy players are expected to participate in the WESM this year, including renewable energy suppliers for GEOP that could provide cheaper and cleaner energy to eligible companies and entities.

“The REalTalk in Cagayan de Oro City will be an opportune moment for us to build momentum on the implementation of GEOP in the region by mobilizing campaigners who will raise awareness and influence entities to participate in the program,” said Ian Soqueño, Climate Reality Philippines’ Energy Program Lead.

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Single-use plastic ban in Ormoc City cut waste collected in coastal cleanups by 71%

Post author By climaterealityph
Post date September 11, 2023

Single-use plastic ban in Ormoc City cut waste collected in coastal cleanups by 71%

Klima Eskwela goes to Ormoc City

September 11, 2023

Ormoc City—The Ormoc City Single-Use Plastic Products Regulation Ordinance of 2021 (City Ordinance No. 51) resulted in a 71% drop in waste collected during river, lake banks, and coastal cleanups in 2022.

This was shared by Rosilyn C. Sanchez, Officer-in-Charge of the Ormoc City Environment and Natural Resource Office, during The Climate Reality Project Philippines’ knowledge exchange session Klima Eskwela: Climate Science, Arts, and Action held at the Ormoc City Hall last September 1 and 2.

Conducted in partnership with the Climate Change Commission, the Department of Education Ormoc City Division, and the City Government of Ormoc, the Klima Eskwela session was attended by more than 50 students and faculty members of the New Ormoc National High School in Ormoc City, Leyte.

“In 2021, Ormoc City Ordinance No. 51 was enacted. Under this ordinance, the sale and use of [certain] SUPs [single-use plastics] within Ormoc City is prohibited. Selling is only allowed for customers outside of Ormoc City given that the Official Receipt of Sale indicates that the buyer is residing outside of Ormoc City,” Sanchez explained.

Under the said ordinance, the following items were declared as prohibited single-use plastics: (1) sando bags with handles made of plastic or plastic composite, including oxo-biodegradable, with less than 15 microns in thickness; (2) stirrers made of plastic or plastic composite (all sizes, thickness, and length); (3) utensils and cutleries made of plastic or plastic composite; (4) plastic roll bags with less than 15 microns in thickness, except oxo-biodegradable and oxo-degradable; (5) cups made of plastic or plastic composite with less than 0.20 mm of thickness; (6) Styrofoam cups made of plastic or plastic composite.

Business operators found in violation of this ordinance shall be fined for every act of violation and shall be grounds for revocation of permits issued for its continued operation.

In just a year of implementation, the City Government of Ormoc saw the number of plastic products recovered from coastal clean-ups decline from 10,522 in 2020 to 3,000 in 2021—a testament to the effectiveness of single-use plastic bans.

A new report released by the United Nations Environment Programme revealed that bans on single-use plastics are necessary to complement pricing policies, such as levies and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes.

Aimee Oliveros, Engagement Lead of The Climate Reality Project Philippines, Rosilyn C. Sanchez, Officer-in-Charge of the Ormoc City Environment and Natural Resource Office, Erwin Husmalaga, Information Officer of the Climate Change Commission, Sophia Manzano, Development Management Officer of the Climate Change Commission, Keith Sigfred Ancheta, Youth Coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Philippines. Jonathan John Maldupana, Climate Reality Leader, and Joseph Pilapil, Project Evaluation Officer of the City Government of Ormoc.

Experts, government leaders, and advocates weigh in on the climate and plastic crises

The two-day Klima Eskwela session in Ormoc City served as a platform for youth leaders to learn more about the latest climate science, national and local climate change action plans, and the interlinkages of climate change and plastic pollution.

Climate Reality Leader Jonathan John Maldupana delivered a presentation on the basics of climate change, specifically how human activities are altering the world’s climate systems and the solutions we have at hand to address it.

Erwin Husmalaga, Information Officer of the Climate Change Commission, presented the various policy frameworks and strategies of the Philippine government to mitigate and address the adverse impacts of climate change while Joseph Pilapil, Project Evaluation Officer of the City Government of Ormoc, discussed the city’s Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP).

“The City of Ormoc as usual ground zero of climate risks is always seeking better solutions to always keep its people safe from disasters. Adapting now is saving lives, saving properties, and saving resources,” Pilapil said during his presentation.

Noting that the goals and objectives of the Ormoc LCCAP are anchored on the goals of the National Climate Change Action Plan, Sophia Manzano, Development Management Officer of the Climate Change Commission, provided recommendations to further strengthen the plan.

Dr. Eduardo Mangaoang, Member of the Climate Change Commission’s National Panel of Technical Experts, underscored the need for Ormoc City to prepare for the danger of flash floods and even landslides from the upland.

“Ormoc City is basically a basin. It is the recipient of anything that comes from the uplands. This is why the Ormoc [City] Government is looking at rehabilitating your watersheds and forests. This is critical. Any development in the city, [without] the development [protection] of the uplands, will only be temporary because you’ll be in danger of severe impacts of climate change during extreme weather events.”

Climate Reality Leader and Youth Cluster Coordinator Keith Sigfred Ancheta presented the climate lens of plastic pollution and the need to simultaneously address the climate crisis and plastic pollution.

“Considerable amounts of greenhouse gasses are emitted at any point in the life of plastics–from production to disposal. We cannot have a very linear approach where we extract raw materials, use them, and dispose of them. That’s the current model we have. We need to shift to a more circular approach. In order to achieve this, we need to redesign the current system,” Ancheta explained.

The Climate Reality Project Philippines, turned over copies of Harvest Moon: Poems and Stories from the Edge of the Climate Crisis for the library of New Ormoc City National High School. Harvest Moon is an anthology of images, poems, stories, and essays about the climate crisis from writers, photographers, and artists in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and Latin America. [From Left to Right] Aimee Oliveros, Engagement Lead of The Climate Reality Project Philippines, Danreve D. Revez, Coordinator for Special Program in the Arts of New Ormoc City National High School, Ms. Juliet Montebon, Education Program Supervisor of Department of Education Ormoc City Division, and Mae M. Cortes, Project Development Officer of Department of Education Ormoc City Division.

Integrating youth leadership, arts, and climate action

The second day of the Klima Eskwela session was allotted for a creative workshop, where students and faculty members created literary pieces, songs, and artworks to be showcased as part of Climate Reality Philippines’ Poets for Climate initiative in support of the global When Is Now campaign.

Reflecting on what they learned from the experts, participants pledged towards the end of the event to minimize the consumption of single-use plastics, adopt energy-efficient practices, support and engage in the restoration of natural ecosystems in the city, and serve as ambassadors for sustainability within our school and community.

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