The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), in collaboration with the Worldwide Teach-in (WWTI) Philippines and Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability, conducted the Climate Justice Teach-in Webinar titled #MakeClimateAConversation on 2 April 2022. Ms. Faith Caubang, a UPOU Bachelor of Education Studies (BES) student and Team Leader of WWTI Philippines, and Mr. Karl Alex Laurito, a member of the WWTI Philippines, served as the hosts. Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), spearheaded the event.
Dr. Serrano delivered the opening remarks and welcomed the participants. She shared that UPOU’s collaboration with Bard College started last year. UPOU joined the global dialogue on how to Solve Climate by 2030 through a webinar which tackled various perspectives on specific steps that could help our country solve climate change. She highlighted the importance of the conversation on climate change and climate solutions, especially since our country is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change impacts and events, such as sea level rise, increased frequency of extreme weather, rising temperatures, and heavy rainfall. She reminded the participants that climate change is not an abstract problem, but rather it intersects with almost all issues in society, such as poverty, food security, water scarcity, flooding, and drought, among others. She hoped that, through the webinar, everyone will openly discuss the climate crisis, and how it affects everyone on a personal level and as a society.
Dr. Eban Goodstein, Director of the Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College in New York, USA and Co-director of WWTI Internship, acknowledged and thanked the participants. He emphasized the need to go forth from these educational opportunities to change the world. He cited that we are living in an extraordinary moment in the history of the human species as we have the opportunity to rewire the entire globe and stabilize the climate. He declared that we do not have to live in a world where every year is getting hotter, typhoons are getting stronger, and sea levels are rising higher. He assured the attendees that we are in the position to make changes and to build clean energy, resilient communities, and better agricultural systems in the future that can be the foundation of a sustainable and prosperous world.
The speakers in the first hour of the webinar included Mr. Lorenzo Lim, Mr. Alvern Tesorero, Mr. Jerald Villarmino, and Mr. Carlo Perete. Mr. Lim, a BES student of UPOU, gave a presentation on the impacts of climate change to us and to our country. In solving climate change, he suggested to start something small, practical, and viable, such as reducing our carbon footprints by recycling and conserving energy, and sharing this information to others. Mr. Tesorero, a graduate of Marine Plastics Abatement degree at the Asian Institute of Technology, tackled the rampant use of plastic in the country and its impact on the environment. He encouraged everyone to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials, and to be engaged and join the climate change movement. Mr. Villarmino, a registered chemist and a Diploma in Research and Development Management student at UPOU, talked about green chemistry and its role against climate change. He encouraged everyone to effectively pressure the policymakers to take action now . Mr. Carlo Perete, a registered pharmacist and a certified quality auditor, discussed medical waste and its impact on climate change.
The second hour of the event featured Mr. Alec Buenaventura, Ms. Toni Suzuki-Ilagan, Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes, and Dr. John Martin as the speakers. Mr. Buenaventura, an instructor at Our Lady of Fatima University and a Master of ASEAN Studies student at UPOU, talked about global effects of climate change. Ms. Suzuki-Ilagan, a BES student of UPOU, discussed climate change and women. Her talk highlighted the crucial role of women in protecting the environment. Asst. Prof. Cabanes, Program Chair of the Master of Arts in Nursing of UPOU, associated mental health and climate change by discussing their impacts and effects to our well-being. She shared that climate change issues can trigger questions on inequality and discrimination that can lead to low self-worth, depression, and even suicide. Dr. Martin, Head of Research Strategy and Governance at the University of Plymouth, addressed the things an individual can do about climate change.
Dr. Martin shared nine things we can do about climate change as suggested by The Grantham Institute of the Imperial College London:
- Make your voice heard by those in power
- Eat less meat and dairy
- Cut back on flying
- Leave the car at home
- Reduce your energy use, and bills
- Respect and protect green spaces
- Invest your money responsibly
- Cut consumption–and waste
- Talk about the changes you make
In the third and final stretch of the event, the participants took part in a short interactive activity involving guessing rebus puzzles and arranging scrambled words. The last session showcased Ms. Claire Javier, Ms. Marie Cris Edquila, and Ms. Sophia Alba as they shared their personal journeys and experiences as volunteers and their participation in various WWTI initiatives that aid in the climate solution. Ms. Javier, a Marketing and Partnership Officer of Kalinaw and an advocate of ocean plastic prevention, talked about social media campaigning. Ms. Edquila, a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) student of UPOU, and Ms. Alba, a Bachelor of Arts in Communication student of the Ateneo de Manila University, shared their internship experiences and personal climate justice stories.
A Q&A session and the presentation of the certificates of appreciation to the speakers followed the presentations of each hour of the webinar.
WWTI Philippines is a climate justice movement in affiliation with WWTI. WWTI is a project of Bard’s College Graduate Programs in Sustainability. It is a global initiative that educates leaders in delivering environmental and social justice to governments, businesses, and schools. It aims to turn climate apathy into climate action and to spark action on climate justice and promote climate solutions.
The Climate Justice Teach-in Webinar can be viewed on the UPOU Facebook page.
Sustainable Development Goals
Written by Jaime P Guimbao
Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Canas-Llamas