Climate change campaign dares Pinoy youth to speak up in social media

MANILA, Philippines - The movement founded by former United States Vice President Al Gore has launched a caravan that seeks to promote awareness about the need to act on climate change.

The Climate Reality Project (CRP) caravan aims to gather grassroots support to encourage world leaders to forge a strong climate agreement during the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris come December.

The caravan highlights the role of the Filipino youth and the local governments to spur community climate action.

CRP country manager Rodne Galicha said the newest campaign for the Filipino youth is called “Bakit, Bakit Hindi?,” an adaptation of the group’s “Why? Why Not?” initiative last year.

“Why? Why Not?” used social networking sites to encourage young people to catalyze collective action in the lead-up to the Paris climate talks.

“In this campaign, young people will be given the opportunity to ask probing questions to government officials, Philippine negotiators and environmental agencies such as the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the Climate Change Commission through 30-second videos,” Galicha said.

The videos will be used to encourage discussions in social networking sites over the next few months especially during the CRP nationwide climate caravan, where volunteers will hold dialogues with various sectors.

“We, therefore, encourage local government units and their respective councils to issue resolutions in behalf of their people to call on world leaders to sign a strong and bold climate agreement,” Galicha said.

The Philippine campaign also seeks to boost the country’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions or the plan containing actions that will reduce emissions.

Natural disasters and extreme weather conditions have been attributed to climate change, which was linked to emissions produced by human activities.

Some critics, however, question the connection between human activities and climate aberrations, saying there is no scientific consensus yet on the issue.

Skeptics also assailed what they called “climate change alarmism,” which they believe are being peddled by groups with interests in alternative energy sources and green investments.

Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will conduct its 21st session in Paris from November 30 to December 11 to tackle ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to limit global warming below two degrees Celsius.

Some countries, however, are hesitant to set emission reduction targets, believing this could impact on economies that are heavily dependent on coal.