The climate crisis we are facing right now is the greatest challenge of our world today. Many human-related activities causes the climate change, thus eroding Earth’s ability to sustain its life and biodiversity. The climate change disrupts the weather patterns leading to extreme weather events and shifting of temperatures.

The frontliners who are mostly affected by the climate crisis are those who are socially disadvantage sector; women, children, informal workers, farmers, fishermen and urban settlers. People living in small houses and crowded communities who are generally poor are forcibly displaced by floods, while the lengthened droughts and scarcity of water are putting people at risk of hunger and famine. The climate crisis challenges the people’s health, capacity of the production of foods and agricultural products, housing, and even work condition.

Given the extent and urgency of the climate crisis, there is a need to have a clearer steps and awareness at all levels of society to prevent the climate change. Humanity is the cause, humanity is the solution. Luckily, many committed people around the world, including church institutions, trade unions, civic organizations and many others have identified themselves a wide array of climate change solutions that can heal our planet as well as climate justice for the injustices that frontline communities have suffered.  

Raising Awareness: Cause and Effects

The IYCW-Asia Pacific, Young Christian Workers of the Philippines, Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, Women Wise and other organizations have conducted a series of seminar, training and round table discussions on Climate Change and Climate Justice.

Accordingly, many experts claim that human and human’s activities are the primarily responsible of climate change caused by global warming. Global warning happens due to large consumption and burning of fossil fuels that generate greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere trapping the sun’s heat.

Greed and obsession on economic growth

Carbon dioxide and methane are the main component of greenhouse gases. These are coming from using gasoline like driving cars, other vehicles, factories waste and industrial emissions. Mining and cutting down forests for commercial use can also release carbon dioxide.

Many countries have registered an economic growth (GDP) of 7% higher from the previous years, but the Green House Gases emissions also relatively increase.

Over consumption and unsustainable use of natural resources

Overconsumption of our natural resources is a variable threat to our environment and to the world we live in. Many of our natural resources are diminishing due to overconsumption that leads to environmental depletion. Once the environment becomes incapable of replenishing itself compared to gravity of using them, these resources will be gone forever.

An example of how human is consumed the earth is found in the logging industry, deforestation, mining industry, quarrying, mono crop plantation and the excessive use of pesticide and commercial fertilizers.

Big Oil and Gas Companies

Fossil fuel companies the like of Shell, PetroChina, Exxon, Total, Chevron and many others remain the huge polluters and contributors of greenhouse gases emissions. Oil and gas companies are well aware of the dangers of climate change. However, these companies appear to be contented to alter their plans and using short-sighted solution to stay afloat in their business.

While many scientists say we need a mass switch to renewable energy and efficiency, many of these big oil and gas companies however, are using many tactics to block energy reform. Profit over people mindset perpetuates an endless cycle of destruction at the cost of nature, the climate, and communities.

Misinformation and Propaganda

Many researches and official data shows that the big contributors of the climate crisis we are experiencing right now are those big companies (TNC’s) and the post-industrialized countries. However, who most likely to suffer are in the third-world countries, and putting the blame on them. That the cause of environmental pollution and environmental degradation is due to lack of discipline of the people, lack of proper sanitation and throwing of garbage anywhere.

It is not relatively true, because still who owns and control the use of the vast earth resources are still the Trans National Companies (TNC’s)

Dream to Struggle (Pangarap ng Pakikibaka)

Climate change is a young worker’s issue and a human rights issue. Last August 4, 2023, together with network organizations headed by Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, the IYCW-ASPAC co-facilitated the Facilitators Training on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation at University Hotel, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. It was attended by different representatives of various organizations and communities.

The focus of the training is about Community Risk Assessment (CRA) where it was clearly explained how to identify the different hazards and vulnerabilities of a particular community or workplace. There are numbers of tools and instruments that can be used be used to identify the CRA. Among in the lists are Historical Hazard Timeline, Hazzard Assessment Table, Transect Work, Seasonal Calendar, Risk Map, Livelihood Analysis and the Washington Group Questions.

The objectives of the CRA is to identify the potential disaster risks, why it happened and what are the possible ways and means to reduce or prevent the identified risk. The CRA must be people-centered, gender and age inclusive, simple and participative. CRA is one of the means to at least reduce the impact of Climate Change especially to the vulnerable sectors.

Fighting the corporate greed and plunder of the environment

It is imperative for us and to the people to get good understanding on the whole scenario of climate crisis, climate change and the climate justice. We must fight the greed of these TNC’s in plundering our natural resources at all cost. We have to charge them of the damage they are contributing to the environment. As a mass movement of young people and young workers, we have to continue the awareness raising program on climate change and dismantle the culture of consumerism for the sake of the earth and human life. 

For more information about climate issues, you can contact us through the following lines:

IYCW-ASPAC- iycwaspac.org@gmail.com / https://www.facebook.com/iycwasiapacific/

CTUHR- ctuhr.manila@gmail.com / https://ctuhr.org/contact-us/