[THINK PIECE] If not us, who? If not now, when?

If not us, who? If not now, when?

The response to these questions is clear and simple: we must respond to the urgency of the climate crisis now. We recognize that today’s youth face a starkly different and overly complex reality: climate anxiety, heightened geopolitical tensions, and an education crisis, among countless other ordeals cannot be escaped. Daily experiences now involve commuting around flood-prone areas, stocking enough food for disasters, and living with the harsh realities of this warming planet. The anthropocene-induced climate change feels like a dreadful reality to tread. The increasingly devastating effects of climate change are upon us; what was once a distant future of doom and gloom is now the present reality for everyone.

Thus, the urgency and relevance of the aforementioned questions cannot be understated. These words prompt deliberate and profound reflection among the interns, staff members, and the over 110 students in the recently concluded RENDER La Union Climate and Energy Convening. These questions also encapsulate the essence of youth participation in climate action, recognizing the vast and critical role that the younger demographics hold in responding to the issue.  

If not us, who?

La Union’s recent victory over a 650 MW coal-fired power plant, which threatened local biodiversity, the community, and the region’s vital tourism industry, is a powerful example of how collective action can drive meaningful change. This success underscores the importance of collaboration across sectors, but it also highlights the critical role of the youth. The Lupon ng mga Indibidwal na Nangangalaga ng Kalikasan (LINK), for example, concretely illustrates how a youth-driven multisectoral approach holds much potential in producing positive change. This organization initiates activities that target various tenets of environmental work: marine projects, agricultural initiatives, and clean-up drives are only a few examples of their contributions.

At the convening, more than a hundred students responded to the question, what makes La Union beautiful for you? The diversity of ideas coming from each young respondent led to a collective vision of a greener, more sustainable, and province of justice that would be built up for and by the youth. We saw participants as young as grade school students responding to the call for a greener La Union during the event, attentively listening to the speakers, and participating in the forum to ask questions. 

If not now, when?

A common question raised during RENDER convenings is this: how may we participate in the fight against climate change at our young age? The youth acknowledge the urgency of the climate crisis and they are also aware that the way forward is fraught with difficulty: there is an uphill struggle against powerful economic and socio-political norms that hinge on the exploitation of natural resources as beautiful and vulnerable as the coral reefs of La Union. Nonetheless, young people are filled with much curiosity, determination, and hunger for action that drive them to campaign for a just and timely green transition despite the countless hurdles they ought to overcome.

The mere presence of over a hundred participants hailing from different municipalities of La Union powerfully illustrates that the time to act is now. All speakers centered their talks on timely action: the works of RENDER were presented by Tonichi Regalado, the projects of LINK were explained by Ms. Mickey Galang, the initiatives of DMMMSU were detailed by Mr. Celso Jucutan, Director for Environmental Concerns, Sustainability and Development of DMMMSU & CEO of LINK, and the campaigns of the Koalisyon Isalbar Ti Pintas Ti La Union (Save the Beauty of La Union Coalition) were narrated by Mr. Cris Palabay, founder of coalition. In all these discussions and presentations, the urgency and potential of youth participation was unpacked and explored. For us, Klima – RENDER interns, events like this prompt us to reflect on our own role in the larger picture of environmental work. 

Following this learning-filled internship at RENDER and Klima Center,  we ponder about how we can take our advocacy to the next level. For most of us are senior college students - some of us are even working on our individual theses that tackle a variety of environmental issues - balancing practical career considerations with personal advocacy is made more complex by the increasing urgency and relevance of the climate crisis. It has become clear that the path towards fossil fuel divestment and a sustainable future has a multidisciplinary nature that requires different skill sets and backgrounds. While we come from various fields – the natural sciences, social sciences, and business management, among others – we are united by the singular goal of a sustainable future.

As the climate crisis accelerates, the future of our planet increasingly rests in the hands of young people whose involvement is not only necessary but urgent. For the interns of RENDER, the future for our personal lives is indistinguishable from the future of the planet. For the youth of the Philippines, the fight for climate action is indistinguishable from the fight for a just future. From the classroom and academic convenings to the streets, mobilizations, and the behind-the-scenes of the various sustainable development projects of the Philippines. The fight for climate action and the green transition begins with asking questions.