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The Heat Wave Crisis
The Philippines is currently undergoing an extraordinary climate change, with temperatures surging between 42°C and 45°C in areas that are considered as “danger” zones. This extreme weather has resulted in the adaptation of online learning, enabling students to study from home with the supervision of their teachers using the Internet. This event is a big first for the nation which usually had the rainy season and its related problems. The Department of Education (DepEd) answered to these seasonal changes by shifting the beginning of classes to August and is now thinking of a step-by-step return to a June opening through a transition period.
The main obstacle to passive acceptance of the situation is the lack of knowledge of the youth.
It is important to teach students and Filipinos about the perils of climate change and how to adapt to it. Thus, they are the future that will have to deal with nature’s wrath if global warming continues, therefore, their participation in the reversal of this trend is essential.
Global warming is a worldwide problem that influences all countries. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) states that global warming is the increase in global temperatures mainly because of the increasing concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Climate change, which is a wider term, includes the long-term changes in precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns. From the Industrial Revolution to the present, Earth has warmed by 1°C, and 2023 has been the hottest year on record. If the current trends keep running, 2024 may beat the previous record.
The Effect of Climate Change on the Philippines
The Philippines suffers from the most serious effects of climate change. Droughts are a threat to farmers’ lives and food security, while forest fires in the Cordillera Region disturb tourism and farming activities. The fires that occur regularly in urban residential areas cause the displacement of thousands of people. These events show the pressing need to cut global warming, with the students being a significant part of the solution.
The main idea of this sentence is about engaging young people in climate action initiatives.
Students are required to be active players in the fight against climate change. The higher the awareness of its effects, the more they can join the efforts to mitigate it.
– Participate in Educational Workshops and Seminars: Schools can plan events to educate people about climate change. Knowing its outcomes is the initial step for students to start doing something about it. Household activities, like waste segregation, can make a big difference to the environment.
– Awareness Campaigns: Schools and communities can hold poster-making events and use social media to disseminate information about climate change and its impacts.
– Community Clean-Up Drives: The participation of students in beach, park, and neighborhood clean-ups cultivates environmental awareness and helps in the reduction of pollution.
-Tree Planting Initiatives: Trees are the ones that absorb carbon dioxide and give numerous environmental benefits. The local government units can supervise the students in the tree-planting activities and make sure that the trees are growing and becoming mature.
– School or Community-Based Gardening: Vegetable gardens are a great way to educate students about sustainable agriculture, food production, and the role of biodiversity in the fight against climate change.
– Lobbying for Change: Students can write to politicians, community leaders, and businesses to push for environmental policies, endorse renewable energy, and conserve natural habitats.
The Part of Local Government and Youth Organizations is the Implementation of the Project
Local government units and the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), a youth organization, can be the key players in the promotion of climate change awareness. Sports events are of great importance for youth development, but the SK can also play a big role in the climate change initiatives in their communities.
The Philippines is known worldwide for its youth and children’s participation, especially through the SK. Through climate change awareness activities, Filipino youth can become the “pag-asa ng bayan” (hope of the nation), as described by national hero Jose Rizal.
Conclusion
The Filipino youth are the ones who can guarantee a sustainable future. Through their education about climate change and their participation in the mitigation efforts, we can create a generation that actively participates in environmental preservation. The actions taken today will determine the world they will be part of tomorrow so that the Philippines will be able to prosper even in the face of the problems caused by global warming.
