Baguio City joins One Planet Cities Challenge for climate action

The Baguio City Climate Journey took place on April 20, 2024, at the Plaza Garden Hotel which aimed to foster understanding of Baguio City’s climate initiatives, gaps, and opportunities, and to gather valuable insights from diverse local stakeholders for the city’s climate concerns. 

The event was organized by the City Government of Baguio’s City Planning Development and Sustainability Office-SIGLAT Youth Innovation Hub, in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF).

As Baguio became part of the One Planet Cities Challenge by the Worldwide Fund for Nature, it became eligible to participate in the popular ‘We Love Cities’ (WLC) campaign. 

However, Baguio is still undeniably far from overcoming climate challenges, as it remains an existential threat that requires collective actions from all sectors of society, making this event even more significant.

The program was a full day of talks and activities open to the public that allowed the city to evaluate its stand as a progressive and inclusive community, striving to come up with innovative solutions, and fostering public-private partnerships.

Most participants were youth from various schools and organizations, which also provided an opportunity to engage them for a brighter tomorrow.

Moreover, Mayor Benjamin Magalong in his message emphasized the importance of youth leadership in becoming part of the solution to mitigate these challenges.

“Yung mga complex decisions that we are going to make, mga implications ng mga ito will be felt 5, 10 years from now. Sino makakaramdam ng mga implikasyon ng mga desisyon natin? Ang mga kabataan. So isn’t it just right for them to be already involved in decision making?,”  the mayor added.

The exchange of ideas and experiences served as a new collaboration that propelled the city’s climate journey forward, contributing to the development of a livable, inclusive, and creative city. – Jessa Yaccao