QUEZON CITY, 25 March 2022—“Show your love for climate justice!”—this was the call of Filipino youth climate strikers today as they joined thousands of young people around the world who are adding their voices to the global climate strikes. The youth groups, who are also part of the Greenpeace-led Love, 52 youth and elections campaign, are calling on presidential candidates to protect communities and ensure that the country’s next generation will not experience the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

The Philippines is one of the most climate vulnerable countries in the world, yet the climate crisis is still not a priority election issue. And even while millions of Filipinos suffer from climate impacts year after year, justice remains elusive for communities that are bearing the brunt of the climate emergency through loss of lives, homes, and livelihoods. At present, only one among the 10 presidential aspirants is staunchly championing this cause.

“Climate change, especially climate justice, should be an issue for the youth in this election,” said Mark Anthony Yabis of the Better Normal Youth Movement.[1] “We live in a generation where climate change affects our daily lives in different ways, like it or not, as a result of decades of wrongdoings from the biggest polluters and contributors to climate change.”

“As a member of the large population of youth, I will live in a future that has been shaped by others. I get to harvest what they sow, and I have no control whether it is good or terrible. I get to live in that future,” said Angat GenC youth Victoria Emmanuel Angeles.[2] “Youth don’t want to live in a society that is influenced by a magnitude of suffering, or in a world that is unconcerned with the welfare of individuals and their environment. Development and sustainability do not happen overnight; unless we act today, it will be difficult to hope for a bright future..”

Aside from joining the strikes, youth groups like KalikaSan Pablo from Laguna, Treebuk Project from Bukidnon, Kool Kids of Kali from Samar, and national groups like the Better Normal Youth Movement, Angat GenC, and YACAP, are writing “love letters” to local and national candidates to ask them to be champions of climate action.[3] These letters will be delivered to the candidates to see how those aspiring to serve the people will reply.

“The youth nowadays have all the means to become a powerful force in lobbying and campaigning for effective and sustainable solutions to combat and mitigate the effects of climate change, most especially for the most vulnerable or marginalized communities,” said Yabis. “If the candidates want to show their love for the Filipino youth, they can do so by including the youth in their policy-making processes. By simply listening and taking into consideration the concerns and suggestions of the youth for all the policies that will be endorsed for implementation, it will lead to a sustainable and inclusive environment for which the youth can thrive, as well as positively impact their communities for a better normal.”

“If we can educate ourselves enough to vote for leaders who are committed to championing climate justice and environmental justice….we’d be able to go about our daily lives without experiencing environmental anxiety, and we’d have more time to really work better and prepare better,” said Angeles. “All we ask is that [politicians] actually listen, recognize what they’ve heard, and take action. Knowing something is a breakthrough, but acting on that knowledge is a solution.”

Together with the youth, Greenpeace is calling on presidential aspirants to stand up for climate justice by:

  • acknowledging how the burden of climate impacts—loss of lives, homes, livelihoods—are borne by those least responsible for the climate crisis; and
  • calling on big polluters—fossil fuel companies and developed nations—to be accountable for their role in fuelling the emergency, and to fulfill their obligations to those who are impacted.

“Climate issues affect all of us, regardless of our affiliations, where we are, or whatever sector we are in,” said Joanna Sustento, Love, 52 co-convenor. “Climate justice must be part of the youth and Filipino people’s criteria in choosing their next leaders. The next government will be seated during the crucial window to address the climate crisis. Who among our candidates will protect what we love—our loved ones, our environment, and our future? If they truly have the interests of the people—particularly the youth—at heart, the next president must ensure climate justice is the top priority issue in their agenda.” 

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Notes

The Love, 52 Youth and Elections Movement is composed of various advocacy youth groups from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao urging their fellow young Filipinos to vote to protect what and who they love from the worsening climate crisis – their families, loved ones, the country, and the environment – in the 2022 elections. Through this love letter, they are calling on electoral candidates to commit to a vibrant democracy that will enable climate and environmental justice.

[1] The Better Normal Youth Movement submitted to President Duterte in 2020 a youth agenda calling for a “better normal” – a green and just recovery from the pandemic.

[2] Angat GenC is a youth campaign raising awareness about the climate crisis and how young people can advance Climate Justice and Energy Transition as a major electoral agenda in 2022.

[3] Led by Love, 52, more youth groups and individuals are expressing their “love” this elections, not only through love letter-writing but through other activities that seek to bring the candidates’ attention to the aforementioned calls

Media Contact:

Katrina Eusebio-Santillan
Digital Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +639992296451

Maverick Flores
Communications Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +639176211552