Second of two parts
I STATED in the first part of this column series that while Generation RE may not yet be a trending phrase on social media or a familiar byword in certain circles, it will soon be the force that provides the impetus for real change — by rebuilding, restoring, regenerating, reforming, and reconnecting agriculture with nature and humanity.
Every Filipino — especially the youth — must step forward and claim their place in Generation RE.
And as Generation RE builds and strengthens its ranks, it can press for specific actions from the government and private sector in the pursuit of its aspirations — which is the save Mother Earth from reaching its “breaking point.”
Among the most important aspects to pursue the aspirations of Generation RE is aligning policy, finance, and governance.
Aligning governance also means stamping out corruption at all levels of the bureaucracy and ensuring that every single peso of public funds is invested in major initiatives for decarbonization, among others.
On decarbonization, we will need clear policies, climate-responsive budgeting, green investments, and incentives that encourage innovation. These must be embedded in national and local development plans, ensuring a just transition that protects workers, farmers, communities, and stakeholders.
Science and innovation are also essential — but they must be integrated, policy-relevant, and people-centered. Research must guide decisions across water, energy, food, and environmental systems, prioritizing long-term resilience over short-term gains.
Let me go further by stating that R&D should not merely mean research and development, but primarily research for development.
In the Philippines, we do not have a shortage of bright minds, including from the ranks of the youth. In state universities and colleges (SUCs), there are students with ground-breaking or innovative ideas who need support to develop their concepts into real-world applications.
There are also SUCs that are advancing decarbonization agendas. One good example is the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), which entered the 2024 UI GreenMetric World University Ranking that evaluates global campus sustainability and green initiatives. This recognition was earned on December 2024.
This UI GreenMetric World University Ranking motivates institutions worldwide to improve their environmental policies and promote sustainable practices, fostering accountability, and awareness in the higher education sector.
Another good example is the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija, which also has a green program. Among others, CLSU has installed solar panels that the university claims can generate substantial savings compared to electricity from traditional sources.
Both institutions also include in their curricula subjects focused on decarbonization and sustainability, making them hotbeds for green innovation.
My wish is for policymakers to provide more funding support to all SUCs so that the youth can be more engaged in developing and innovating solutions for decarbonization.
I say this because the youth are key to mobilizing Generation RE in the country and the rest of the world.
This brings us to another vital component — systems reform.
Systems reform
Climate action and disaster risk reduction demand whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, so concerted and coordinated action must be taken for genuine reforms to take root.
Sustainability must also move beyond advocacy and become an institutional practice — embedded in education, planning, budgeting, and governance.
Let us stop using the term sustainability merely for optics or to create deceptive narratives that shield incompetence.
Sustainability should be one of the foundations for building resilience across all sectors and systems, with emphasis on those most vulnerable to climate impacts.
Resilience is built at the intersections — between science and community action, between policy and practice, and between people and nature. Every research effort, every restoration project, and every climate action — no matter how small — contributes to rebuilding humanity and the Earth.
Individually, these actions may seem modest. But together, they are transformative.
One good example is the regeneration of mangrove areas, which can help protect farmlands during powerful storms. Farmers spared from destruction do not need massive financial assistance to recover, enabling the government to allocate more funds to other resilience initiatives.
Resilience can also be strengthened if all of us — especially the youth — collectively condemn, in the strongest terms, those involved in the flood control scam. We should also demand genuine accountability and ensure that those who should be jailed are indeed jailed.
Clearly, ghost and substandard flood control projects have caused untold misery in communities inundated by floods, including farming areas.
The Earth can rebuild
Thankfully, Mother Earth has demonstrated its remarkable ability to rebuild and regenerate.
Over centuries, it has withstood grave abuses by humankind, yet it continues to provide for humanity’s needs — most especially food.
However, like the healthiest and most resilient human being, Mother Earth has limits to the abuse it can endure. The signs are everywhere — more powerful storms, frequent droughts, water sources reaching critical levels, and declining food production, among others.
Mother Earth may soon reach a “breaking point” in its ability to provide humanity’s basic needs such as habitat and food. We must act now to prevent this from happening.
Hence, Generation RE has a critical mission: to lead humanity in making the following choices:
– Integration over fragmentation
– Regeneration over extraction
– Decarbonization over dependence
– Resilience over vulnerability
– Stewardship over short-term gain
The Earth can heal. Communities can recover. Systems can change — but only if we choose, together, to rebuild.
Move forward, Generation RE!