• THERESA MAE DULMAN
With the recent conclusion of the Advisory Opinion delivery of the International Court Justice (ICJ) on July 23, the Youth for Climate Hope (Y4CH) Philippines called on the Marcos Administration to seek immediate climate actions.
The Bacolod-based group is a youth-powered organization, with actions focused on climate justice, renewable energy campaign in Negros Island, and total phaseout of fossil fuels.
“The world’s highest court finally listened to what communities have demanded for years: states now have a clear legal obligation to protect our right to a clean and healthy environment, to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and to remedy climate harm through finance and reparations,” Y4CH said.
The group demands the present admin to: repeal the gas law; halt all new fossil fuel licensing, subsidies, and infrastructure development; ensure the Philippines’ NDC 3.0 reflects 1.5°C- aligned science-based ambition, and the needs of farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, youth, women and gender-diverse people and other marginalized communities; redirect public finance toward decentralized, community-led renewable energy; and institutionalize climate risk analysis in all energy, fiscal, and permitting frameworks.
“This is a win for present and future generations, especially those in the frontlines of the climate crisis who have resisted against fossil fuel industries and big polluters– a history that we Negrosanons are proud of,” the group added.
The members of Y4CH also recently participated in the 62nd sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB62) UN Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany last June.*
