Indigenous youth from different villages in Upper Pulangi, Bukidnon, Philippines gathered in Apu Palamguwan Cultural Education Center on September 19 and 20 for a youth summit on climate action.

The event was held in solidarity with the youth-led Global Climate Strike that kicked off on September 20 and drew the participation of some 4 million people from more than 150 countries. The Global Climate Strike is a weeklong movement to call attention to the climate crisis and urge local and global leaders to embark on greater efforts to address the climate emergency.

Malaybalay City Mayor Florencio Flores Jr attended the summit and dialogued with the indigenous students who shared how they engage in climate action using what they learned from their elders, school lessons and their own experiences. The youth also shared with the mayor their concerns about climate change impacts in their communities and their ongoing efforts in forest and water management.

Earlier, the youth prepared skits to show how they are affected by impacts of climate change and different ways they can help mitigate it.

The youth summit highlighted the integral role of Indigenous Peoples in climate change mitigation and adaptation through their cultural beliefs and practices rooted in the land. [Environmental Science for Social Change]

Here are some photos:

Climate art from the youth summit: