According to PAGASA, it is expected that all areas of the Philippine territory will get warmer, most especially in summer months. In 2020, the rise has been found to be at 0.9 to 1.1 degree Celsius and this rise is expected to be continued in 2050 by 1.8 to 2.2 degree Celsius. This just basically means that climate change is real, currently happening, and is worsening. And this is true not only in the Philippines, but in the whole world as it is one of the predominant global issues. Moreover, climate change impacts are not only the most fundamental challenges ever to confront the humanity but also pose great risks to the natural environment and ecosystems.
"System change, not climate change", this is one of the most famous quotes with regard to people's actions toward trying to slow down the rapid climate change. This phrase, in large part, points the belief that, to avoid climate catastrophe, society must rapidly shift away from the economic system of capitalism. More than the usual new policies and technological innovation within existing economic system, the idea suggests that it requires more fundamental change to the system. And to spread this message, it has to reach individual learners. That's where education takes part.
Through Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development program, UNESCO aims to “help people understand the impact of global warming today and increase "climate literacy" among young people.” This program and other innovative educational initiatives, including the Global Action Program (GAP), Action for Climate Empowerment and the ZOOM campaign, were presented and discussed in UN conference on climate change or the COP 22. Moreover, the World Metrological Organization (WMO) works closely with weather presenters who are committed to education and outreach on climate change and who have formed a new network Climate without Borders, which has a daily reach of approximately 375,000,000 people, and aims to “educate, motivate and activate” weather presenters to reach out to their audiences armed with useful information. Lastly, partnering with Climate Central, WMO has also produced a series of videos called "summer in the cities" which provide a glance into future effects of global warming on weather in cities around the world. This follows on from a video series "Weather in 2050" in which TV weather presenters reported a typical weather forecast, based on scientific scenarios, for the year 2050.
The Philippines had long responded to the call for climate change education pursuant to Republic Act No. 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009. The Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 or the K-12 Act strengthened curriculum integration of key climate change concepts across grade levels. DRRM and CCA concepts are integrated from kinder to junior high school subject areas such Health, Science, Araling Panlipunan, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao. For senior high school, a special subject in DRRM is offered as part of the STEM strand. In addition, climate change competencies can be found in Earth Science and Earth and Life Science. The changes in the curriculum were complemented by co-curricular actives like the establishment of the Youth for Environment in Schools Organization (D.O. 93, s. 2011) and integration of Gulayan Sa Paaralan, Solid Waste Management and Tree Planting Under the National Greening Program (NGP) (D.O. 5, s. 2014). Also, the Department of Education (DepEd) had been supportive of the participation of learners in climate strikes through the issuances of OUA Memo 00-0920-0168, 12-1119-0504, and 12-019-0341 that raises awareness and enjoins school head to excuse the absence of learners who joined the climate strike provided parental/guardian consent is presented.
References:
(2022). Systems Change Not Climate Change: Support for a Radical Shift Away from Capitalism at Mainstream U.S. Climate Change Protest Events. The Sociological Quarterly, 63:1, 175-198, DOI: 10.1080/00380253.2020.1842141
Department of Education (2017a). The Need for Climate Change Education. https://www.deped.gov.ph/climate-change-education/cce-in-the-philippines/
PAGASA (2022). Climate Change in the Philippines. https://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-change-in-the-philippines
United Nations (2022). Education is key to addressing climate change. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-solutions/education-key-addressing-climate-change