Despite the intensifying effects of climate change to the environment and population, it remains low on the list of concerns of Filipino voters. Job creation, food security and education have consistently ranked as priority concerns of voters, with the environment rarely making it to the conversation, Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) national coordinator Jaybee Garganera lamented during the Tindig Kalikasan Town Hall Forum on the Green Agenda 2025 held on 24 April at the De La Salle University.

“When there is a survey on voter preference, what does the Filipino voter think? Since 2010, there are only three: work, food, and in the last three years coming off from the pandemic, health,” he said at the event attended by several party lists and senatorial candidates. “In the top 10, there is no environment.”

Garganera emphasized that this needs to change, warning that we are one to two steps away from losing our access to what we prioritize if we are not able to address the climate crisis.

The Green Agenda 2025 espoused by religious groups, non-government organization and experts aims to reframe environmental protection not as an isolated issue but as one tied to everyday concerns. It consists of 11 actions as follows:

• Preserving ecological integrity and biodiversity;

• Natural resource and land use management;

• Sustainable agriculture and fisheries;

• Waste management and pollution prevention;

• Climate justice;

• Mining and extractives;

• Energy transformation and democracy;

• Pro-people and pro-ecology sustainable development;

• Upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights and protecting ancestral domains;

• Building disaster-resilient communities; and

• Integrating sustainable development and Laudato Si’ in education.

Garganera also called for a deeper political engagement, emphasizing that elections have become popularity contests. He encouraged voters to seek candidates with a broader commitment to genuine change.

“Genuine change will not happen in our society if we do not include nature and science in our discussion,” he said.

Several concerns were raised during the forum, including what specific legislation candidates would champion to address climate change and how adaptation measures could be implemented effectively at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant highlighted the need for the declaration of a national climate emergency and backed support for the proposed Climate Emergency Act during the forum. He also urged a review of existing environmental laws and a modern approach to the creation of a Philippine National Environmental Code to replace outdated policies.

“It’s important to review all the laws, because we have so many good laws that are remaining unimplemented… and to have a Philippine national environmental code because that’s what we don’t have yet,” David D’Angelo said.

On the subject of waste management in poor communities, another senatorial candidate proposed a Healthy Environment Law focusing on promoting a circular economy. Allen Andamo’s vision focuses not only on waste reduction but also accountability for large corporations responsible for a significant number of waste production.

Discussions during the forum also touched on climate change and disaster resilience, waste management and pollution control, environmental protection and natural resource management, and just and sustainable development.