Bacolod youth demanded that candidates include renewable energy, phasing out of coal and fossil fuels, and the climate justice agenda in their platforms during the third anniversary of the Coal-Free Negros movement on Sunday, March 6.
About 50 environmental youth activists braved the rain and marched down the major thoroughfares from the Provincial Capitol to the Fountain of Justice Sunday, March 6, to celebrate the third anniversary of Executive Order 19-08 or Coal-Free Negros, which was signed by the late Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr.
They demanded climate justice from future elected leaders and for them to respect the declaration of a Coal-Free Negros by making sure the province remains to be the renewable energy hub of the Philippines.
“Let us secure that our interests should be for the masses, for the youth, and the next generations. We are calling for the aspiring leaders of our country to add the climate crisis to their agenda and provide a clean solution for the masses,” Kyle Anne Villariza, member of Youth for Climate Hope, said.
The youth also called for justice for the victims of typhoon “Odette”, which is a direct result of the climate crisis caused by coal and fossil fuels.
They also reiterated that the fight against coal in Negros has been going on for more than 20 years.
Meanwhile, Youth For Climate Hope, a group of environmental activists, is conducting a membership drive to widen its network to continue to push for renewable energy and climate justice.*