The Cebuano youth on the climate change crisis

MANILA, Philippines – Climate change is a major threat to Cebu and has been responsible for widespread environmental devastation. In his essay, Miguel Antonio Garcia, one of eight finalists of the World Bank Essay Competition 2009, begins by sharing his experiences with three local organizations dedicated to combating this threat.

The Clean Air Youth Alliance (CAYA)–Cebu chapter is a network of various youth organizations whose primary objective is to promote clean air and energy efficiency among households, firms, and government organizations. In Cebu, the CAYA made its mark in setting up roadside emissions testing for its anti-smoke belching campaign. It has also launched campaigns like the CAYA Kids program to raise awareness among elementary students of the effects of climate change and the role they can play to mitigate pollution.

Save the Tanon Strait Citizens Movement (STSCM) was created by a group of environmental lawyers, young professionals, academia, students, activists, and members of cause-oriented groups, in response to the escalating threat of oil drilling and exploration made by a Japanese energy company in the Tanon Strait. Apart from the carbon emissions, there has been a massive loss of biodiversity in the region, which has also led to a decrease in the livelihood of local fishermen. STSCM has also conducted an Environmental Summer School to raise awareness among the Cebu youth about these issues.

At the Carolinian Economics Society (CES) Young Economists Regional Convention, which had an environmental theme, Miguel, along with his team, researched the determinants of greenhouse emissions among OECD countries. “Results from our panel data regression showed that traditional fuels usually correlate to higher GHG emissions,” he says. “On the other hand, we found out that investments in energy-efficient technologies would have a significant impact against emissions from greenhouse gases.” He also did research which established that the Philippine stock market is sensitive to negative news about firms’ impacts on the environment.

To provide a more integrated response to this global issue, Miguel proposes the implementation of a STEP UP Plan to Climate Change that would eventually lead to the creation of a Climate Change Youth Watch:

STEP 1: Set up a Cebu climate change youth initiative

To concentrate all efforts towards “one clear direction,” this initiative will encourage youth organizations to share their resources, and join forces to make a more visible impact through their programs and campaigns.

STEP 2: Tap online social networks

To effectively use popular online social networks like Facebook and Multiply to reach out to people across the globe and try to build awareness about Cebu’s climate change problems.

STEP 3: Extend links with governments, businesses and agencies

To network with all the stakeholders in society, and build a consensus to “strengthen the voice in recommending policies.”

 STEP 4: Push information to strengthen concrete climate change actions

Information campaigns are only effective if people take the requisite actions. It is also important to come up with incentives to attract the seemingly uninterested youth, to ensure full participation from the next generation.

STEP 5: Use the youth voice to advocate climate change reform

Supported by research, an initiative of active nonviolence can induce companies to follow environmental standards. Creative and peaceful student-led protests like those initiated by the STSCM Youth are important in ensuring companies abide by environmental laws and standards.

STEP 6: Provide climate change research

Youth-led research could greatly contribute to programs and initiatives by informing the network what to address.

Starting as a pilot program in Cebu, Youth Watch will check typhoon trends, monitor emissions among cars and local industries, and supplement existing enforcement mechanisms through active nonviolence, information drives, and proposal of projects among Youth Watch partners.

Based on materials published by the World Bank Philippines in www.worldbank.org.ph.