Solution Revolution Forum Connects Quezon City Youth with Local Government in Pursuit of Sustainable Urban Development
August 2019
Participants of Our City 2030: Solution Revolution pose alongside WWF Mascot Chi Chi the Panda. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
The Our City 2030 Project held its first youth forum, Solution Revolution: The Youth of Quezon City and Their Fight for 1.5C, at Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City on the 24th of August, 2019.
Our City 2030 is a joint project between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Plan International. A global initiative of the two organizations, Our City 2030 works with the youth in Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia, as well as in the Philippines, the only site outside of Africa.
WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma discusses the role of the youth in facing climate change during Our City 2030: Solution Revolution. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
The project aims to involve the youth in urban planning process, encouraging high school students to conceptualize their visions, brainstorm solutions and meet with local governments for the sustainability of their home cities by 2030. “With cities accounting for approximately 70% of all greenhouse gases and containing a majority of the human population, WWF-Philippines and Plan International recognize the importance of looking for green and sustainable urban solutions. We hope to be able to empower and capacitate the youth to take a stand and join us in this mission,” said WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma.
Our City 2030 in the Philippines is in partnership with the local government of Quezon City and the School Division Office of Quezon City in implementing activities with the students and teachers of three selected schools, namely Balingasa High School, Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School, and Justice Cecilia Muñoz-Palma High School, as well as Quezon City’s Alternative Learning System (ALS).
Students present their eco-friendly development solution, one of many developed over the past few weeks. The Our City 2030 Project works with youth from Quezon City to develop ideas for a sustainable future. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
The youth forum represents the largest milestone for the first year of Our City 2030. The project was first launched in December 2018 with an inception workshop attended by the partner schools and city representatives. Further lectures and workshops were held to develop the capacities of participant students and teachers on climate change and disaster preparedness through Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) concept, inculcating a sense of sustainability thinking as the project progressed towards this first youth forum.
Present at the event, which was hosted by WWF-Philippines National Youth Council Members Deign Soriano and Yza Nazal, were representatives from the Quezon City Council, Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Planning Office, Social Services Development Department, Tourism Office, Persons with Disability Affairs Office, Health Department, Small Business Development and Promotion Office, Public Affairs Department, Communications Coordination Center and the Sanggunian Kabataan Federation.
PLAN International Philippines Country Director Dennis Guy O’Brien speaks to the audience at Our City 2030: Solution Revolution. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
Throughout the forum, resource speakers discussed various issues pertaining to the sustainability and resiliency of urban centers, including disaster risk reduction management and the commitments made by the Philippines during the Paris Agreement to keep climate change below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Youth leaders also shared their learnings and experiences spearheading sustainability initiatives. The participants themselves were also given the opportunity to present solutions for sustainable cities that they had developed under the guidance of WWF-Philippines and PLAN International during lectures and workshops leading up to the forum.
“The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change makes for very sober reading. The projections, which are all based on indisputable science, paint a bleak picture for the Philippines. Unfortunately the youth have inherited the problem, but this gives us hope because we need the energy and creativity of young people to develop and carry out solutions to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees," said Plan’s Country Director Dennis O’Brien.
WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez banters with the crowd as she co-hosts the morning sessions of Our City 2030: Solution Revolution. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
WWF-Philippines National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez also attended the forum and served as one of the hosts for the morning sessions. As a member of the youth sector herself, she advocates for the participation of the next generation in the protection of the environment.
“It’s important that the youth be given platforms like this forum in order for them to be heard. The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and it’s great to see them speaking out and participating in the futures of the cities they will one day inherit,” said Gutierrez.
Student awardees pose with WWF Mascot Chi Chi the Panda and representatives from the Quezon City Local Government Unit. The Our City 2030 Project connects Quezon City students to the local government to allow the youth to participate in the sustainable development of their home city. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines
The youth forum serves as a capstone event to the first wave of initiatives of Our City 2030, which will continue until 2020 with more workshops and forums to engage the youth sector. The Our City 2030 team hopes that, through these forums, the youth will be heard in the construction of the cities of tomorrow.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Imee S. Bellen
Project Manager, One Planet Cities, WWF-Philippines
ibellen@wwf.org.ph
For media arrangements, please contact:
Mr. Dan Ramirez
Communications and Media Manager, WWF-Philippines
dramirez@wwf.org.ph
