MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on Filipino youth to actively take part in climate action through ocean-based solutions.
In his message at the culminating event of the Month of the Ocean 2025: Ocean and Climate Forum in Quezon City last week, DENR Undersecretary for Legal and Administration Ernesto Adobo Jr. emphasized the Philippines’ vulnerability as an archipelagic nation and highlighted the vital role of young people in developing and advocating transformative climate responses.
He said that as an archipelagic nation with more than 7,600 islands, the Philippines is already on the frontlines of climate change, from experiencing rising sea levels to increasingly violent typhoons. He added that with around 20 tropical cyclones every year, the effects of climate change are getting worse.
“But we have a key resource — our oceans. They are natural carbon sinks, and if we protect and restore our coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses, they can help mitigate the crisis,” Adobo said.
He noted, however, that the country’s marine biodiversity itself is now also under threat, stressing the need for actions to safeguard it. “As young people, we’re in the perfect position to lead efforts to restore these ecosystems. We’ve got the energy, creativity, and passion to make a real difference,” he stressed.
The forum brought together stakeholders from government, academe, civil society, and youth organizations to discuss the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems and enhance coastal resilience in the face of worsening climate impacts, while highlighting the value of partnerships.
Adobo acknowledged the continuing collaboration between the DENR and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), highlighting the joint efforts under the BMB (Biodiversity Management Bureau)-BFAR Convergence Initiative to promote marine biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries.
Project TRANSFORM. In a keynote message delivered by Director Anna Cristina Villonco, DENR Chief of Staff and Supervising Undersecretary for Strategic Communications Marilou Erni introduced Project TRANSFORM as a game-changer for environmental governance and climate adaptation.
She said Project TRANSFORM, or the Trans-disciplinary Approach for Resilience and Environmental Sustainability through Multi-stakeholder Engagement, is a whole-of-society effort that bridges national strategies with local action, fostering inclusive decision-making while supporting young leaders as co-architects of sustainable communities.
“It reflects a shift from reaction to resilience, from siloed work to synergy, from waiting for change to creating it. Project TRANSFORM is committed to creating meaningful spaces for the youth: as citizen scientists, community organizers, policy influencers, digital communicators, and emerging leaders,” Erni pointed out.
She said the initiative promotes the integration of science, technology, and indigenous knowledge in building resilience and is already being implemented in pilot areas where youth are engaged in climate action planning and ecosystem monitoring.
The DENR said the forum is aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) and directly supports Ocean Decade Challenge 5: Unlock ocean-based solutions to climate change.
The agency cited recent national surveys indicating a gap in climate and ocean literacy among Filipinos, with data from 2022 showing a mere 22 percent satisfaction among people in terms of government climate efforts.
Meanwhile, a 2019 knowledge-attitude-practices (KAP) survey revealed low recognition of ocean-related climate issues in coastal communities. The DENR said this highlights a critical gap in public awareness and the need for a targeted approach to engage key sectors, particularly the youth.
With this, the agency vowed to continue working with youth councils to strengthen grassroots awareness and participation.
“These findings collectively highlight a serious gap in climate change awareness and preparedness among Filipinos, emphasizing the necessity of initiatives like the Ocean and Climate Forum to educate, empower, and mobilize the public, particularly the youth, in developing ocean-based solutions for climate resilience,” the DENR said.
Adobo said that the Month of the Ocean is not just a celebration, but a reminder of a shared responsibility across various sectors, including the youth. (PNA)