By Chuck Baclagon

A thousand students from Rizal High School, in Pasig City, Philippines form a human banner that reads: “Act for our Future,” to call for a strong and fair global climate agreement ahead of the international climate talks in Paris that will start on November 30. As governments of more than 195 countries prepare to gather in Paris for the 21st United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, conference of parties, which is expected to come out with a new international legally-binding agreement on climate change.

This activity was made possible through the #NowPH project of the Philippine National Youth Commission (NYC) and Climate Change Commission, which aims to gather voices of the Filipino youths to take part in the battle against climate change.

“Filipinos are no stranger to its devastating impacts,” observes Chuck Baclagon of 350.org, “It demands urgent action as there is only a small window of time to prevent more catastrophic levels of the climate crisis. It demands global solutions based on science, equity and justice, and a fair sharing of efforts across and within countries. It demands a profound transformation of our societies – especially our energy systems and our economies,” adds Baclagon.

This week hundreds of thousands of faith groups, trade unions, indigenous peoples, women’s and youth organisations, environmental groups, farmers and peasants, community organisations, as well as families and all concerned citizens around the world — are building an unprecedented global mobilisation to remind world leaders of their obligations to all citizens of the world to come out with a much stronger international climate agreement that addresses the urgency, pursues real and equitable solutions, to the climate crisis.

NYC Commisioner-at- Large Jose Sixto “Dingdong”Dantes III notes that the advocacy for a fair and ambitious climate deal, “ became more meaningful and personal being a new co-parent. I do hope that action is taken to ensure a sustainable future for the next generation, including the young people who participated in today’s action and of course, Maria Letizia” referring to his daughter with TV actress Marian Rivera.

Moreover, the activity is part of a series of climate actions in the Philippines organized under the banner of March for Climate Justice Pilipinas, which launched its week of actions with the People and Environment Against Coal-based Energy (PEACE) Caravan, a five-day caravan led by coal-affected communities, which will travel towards Manila, to usher their demands to the government and join the broad March for Climate Justice on the morning of November 28.

March for Climate Justice Pilipinas is a convergence of movements and organizations from different sectors of society gathered together by their common appeal for urgent climate action in the coming United Nations Convention on Climate Change in Paris. More information can be found in www.climatejusticemarch.org