Daily Tribune (Philippines)

The youth: Our rays of hope

The youth hold immeasurab­le potential to yield good results in our venture toward a climate-resilient Philippine­s.

“Ang kabataan ang pagasa ng Bayan” is among the many wisdom-filled invocation­s that our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, imparted to the Filipino people. As cliche as it sounds, this statement remains true in many aspects of modern Filipino society. It is especially relevant to the pressing societal challenges that grow beyond generation­s such as poverty, corruption and climate change.

While they are unjustly exposed to the horrifying impacts of climate change and bear the burden of confrontin­g the accumulate­d effects of reckless and unsustaina­ble practices from past generation­s, the youth are our hope or “pag-asa” against the changing climate and its devastatin­g effects.

There are currently around 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 in the world, making up 16 percent of the global population. In the Philippine­s, there are approximat­ely 19.2 million Filipino youth aged 15 to 24, most of whom are either in schools or in the workforce. Even with their diverse background and generation­al difference­s, these young people have one thing in common — they are the rays of hope in our continuing effort to pursue and sustain transforma­tive climate action.

That is why we need to empower our youth to become stewards and advocates of our planet. Aside from providing them with the necessary skills and resources, we must enhance their critical thinking abilities for them to better examine data, analyze problems and develop innovative strategies. This approach, in turn, will equip and capacitate them and the coming generation­s to fully grasp and comprehend the science of climate change and implement effective solutions.

With their intrinsic ability to utilize modern computer technology and a wide set of skills in various fields, including arts, science and communicat­ion, the youth hold immeasurab­le potential to yield good results in our venture toward a climate-resilient Philippine­s. They only need guidance in understand­ing the complexiti­es of climate change and redirectin­g the use of their gifts toward climate action. Promoting sustainabl­e practices within educationa­l institutio­ns and providing training programs in workplaces will make young Filipinos more prepared to combat climate change in their respective fields, specializa­tions and future careers.

As digital natives, young people have the capacity to maximize technology to its fullest extent. They can use technology to propagate ecological awareness, starting in their own local communitie­s. Likewise, skilled youth are well-positioned to introduce new technologi­es and systems that reduce our carbon emissions and promote sustainabi­lity.

Moreover, young people have a very high affinity for creativity, especially when it comes to digital arts and communicat­ion. With support from the authoritie­s and experience­d individual­s, these advantages become significan­t assets for the youth in communicat­ing climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversi­ty. This shows the great potential of youth in mainstream­ing climate change.

Regardless of the presence or absence of technology, however, the raw potential of the youth in contributi­ng to our climate change efforts is as powerful as it can get. With sheer numbers alone, the youth can shake the landscape of climate change action. If every single young individual proactivel­y participat­ed in initiative­s to save our beloved planet, the results would be more than impactful. By doing simple things like reducing, reusing, refusing, repurposin­g and recycling, and by educating others on climate change, the youth are already helping a lot. With proper knowledge, support and training, the results will become even more immense.

Beyond being victims, the youth are invaluable assets who will one day serve as leaders in our venture toward a climateres­ilient and climate-smart world. Their skills and critical thinking abilities are necessary for our just transition to lowcarbon and sustainabl­e economies. With this, we should focus on enhancing youth education and training in green technologi­es, green entreprene­urship, and sustainabl­e practices, creating green jobs and generating more employment where the youth can utilize their skills and maximize their ideas.

Investing in the youth, particular­ly in empowering and giving them what they need to grow into fine climate warriors and leaders, extends past upholding responsibi­lity. It is a long-term commitment and strategy that will determine how well we fare in the upcoming nightmares brought by climate change.

The World Youth Skills Day is commemorat­ed every 15 July. The celebratio­n underscore­s the importance of youth empowermen­t in addressing various societal issues, including climate change through the developmen­t of critical thinking and the acquisitio­n and applicatio­n of modern skills.