Marking International Mother Earth Day, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) called on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to weave climate education into all college programs, saying the next generation’s understanding of the crisis lags behind its concern for the planet.

"Many students and young people care deeply about the planet, yet they often lack a full understanding of climate change, its root causes, long-term impacts, and the urgency of action," CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E. A. Borje said during a forum held at CHED’s main office.

Enrollment in higher‑education institutions climbed from 4.1 million in 2022 to 5.1 million in 2024, CHED data show, while the Philippine Statistics Authority pegs literacy at 90 percent. Despite those figures, Borje warned that “the real challenge lies in fostering a deeper understanding of climate issues.”

He urged CHED to champion sustainability research and integrate climate topics across all academic disciplines, adding that the agency “informs, inspires, and influences the next generation of leaders” who must become “stewards of our planet.”

International Mother Earth Day — designated by the U.N. General Assembly in 2009 — served as the backdrop for the event. CHED Chair J. Prospero E. De Vera III and commissioners Ethel Agnes Pascua‑Valenzuela, Shirley C. Agrupis, Marita A. Canapi, Dennis R. Apag III, and Atty. Cinderella Filipina S. Benitez‑Jaro joined CCC officials to discuss how colleges can embed climate literacy in their curricula.

The CCC said it will continue working with CHED and other agencies to promote climate awareness nationwide. Details on upcoming programs are available at climate.gov.ph and facebook.com/CCCPhl.