By Abbas Nazil
The Philippines marked International Youth Day 2025 on August 11 with a vibrant gathering of around 200 young people at De La Salle University, highlighting the pivotal role of youth in tackling environmental challenges and driving sustainable development.
Organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) Country Office in the Philippines alongside environmental groups Clean Air Asia and BAN Toxics, the event carried the theme “Mobilise & Ignite Youth Action: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for the Triple Planetary Crisis Through Innovation and Partnership.”
UNIDO Country Representative Teddy Monroy stressed that young people, as both inheritors and architects of the future, are witnessing firsthand the impacts of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
He urged them to champion innovative solutions that separate environmental degradation from economic growth.
The celebration featured interactive social media zones where participants shared their commitments and advocacy messages online.
Short videos created during the event entered an online contest, “Your Reel, Your Role: Be the Solution!” Youth-led stories took centre stage during “Youth Talks,” with speakers like Ramyr Angeles, co-founder of Mobility Vision+, and food heritage photographer John Sherwin Felix inspiring attendees through digital engagement.
Two workshops under “Solutions Lab” explored UNIDO Global Environment Facility-funded projects.
The first, focused on the e-mobility ASAP initiative, examined how young people can enter and influence the electric mobility sector through education, research, and career opportunities.
Clean Air Asia’s Deputy Executive Director Atty. Glynda Bathan-Baterina underscored the youth’s potential as future engineers, designers, policymakers, and innovators shaping sustainable transport.
The second workshop tackled healthcare waste management, empowering participants to raise awareness on its environmental and health impacts through creative campaigns.
BAN Toxics Executive Director Reynaldo San Juan Jr. emphasised that youth can help combat hazardous waste by promoting segregation, reducing single-use plastics, and educating communities.
The event also launched the “E-Mobility Idea Competition” for youth aged 18–24, with winners to be recognised at the 2025 Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit and the 2026 Better Air Quality Conference in Bangkok.
Another initiative, #GenZeroPh, aims to mobilise youth organisations to lead environmental responsibility campaigns.
A symbolic youth pact ceremony closed the programme, with participants tying ribbons representing Sustainable Development Goals to an SDG tree and placing written pledges into a jar as a commitment to action.
Monroy concluded by noting that the 2025 UN SDG Report shows only 35% of targets are on track, urging accelerated efforts on key goals like clean energy, sustainable cities, climate action, and life on land and below water.
He called on young people to be leaders, innovators, and partners in creating the systemic changes needed for a sustainable future.
