Bernadette Soriano

The 2025 Philippine elections are not merely about leadership but a defining moment for the planet’s future. With environmental disasters worsening, voters are confronted with the imperative choice of whether to prioritize immediate and decisive climate action.


Typhoons, rising sea levels, and failing crops have rendered the climate crisis an undeniable daily reality in the Philippines. Consequently, environmental issues have emerged as a central concern in this year's elections.

The Green Agenda 2025, crafted by scientists and advocates, outlines a policy framework designed to confront the nation's critical environmental challenges. It advocates for a governance model anchored in sustainability, climate justice, and ecological integrity.

The agenda advances structural reforms, from embedding climate risk in local governance to scaling renewable energy and ecological agriculture, urging candidates to thread sustainability into the very fabric of national development.

A pivotal component of the Green Agenda is the incorporation of climate risk into local governance. Local governments are compelled to weave climate change into their strategic planning and infrastructure development to effectively safeguard their communities from future threats.

Renewable energy stands as another cornerstone of the Green Agenda. Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy is paramount in mitigating climate change and significantly reducing the nation’s carbon footprint.

Additionally, waste management and pollution control are integral to the Green Agenda, which calls for significant reductions in plastic waste and the promotion of a circular economy to minimize environmental impact and foster sustainable resource use.

Building on these initiatives, biodiversity preservation emerges as another critical priority within the Green Agenda. It emphasizes the protection of vital ecosystems, such as forests and marine environments, which are instrumental in climate mitigation efforts.

Given the Philippines' heightened vulnerability to climate change, the urgency of these measures becomes even clearer. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and shifting temperatures have already wreaked havoc on communities, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Notably, sea levels in the Philippines have risen by 60 centimeters—three times the global average—posing a direct threat to coastal communities, infrastructure, and local economies.

Agricultural productivity is likewise under threat, with a 1°C rise in temperature resulting in a 10% reduction in crop yields, undermining both food security and the agricultural economy.

The intensity of typhoons in the Philippines has also escalated, as studies indicate that the frequency of deadly storms is on the rise, their ferocity heightened by increasing temperatures.

This as water scarcity stands as yet a pressing challenge, with projections pointing to significant shortages by 2040, as urbanization and climate change continue to exert pressure on the country’s already limited water resources.

The health impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly apparent. Rising temperatures and frequent heatwaves are not only intensifying heat-related illnesses but also fostering the spread of diseases such as dengue and malaria.

This growing awareness is reflected in a recent Greenpeace survey, which found that 88% of Filipinos prioritize candidates with robust environmental policies, underscoring the public's mounting demand for immediate climate action.

Simultaneously, grassroots efforts—like urban farming in Davao and marine conservation efforts in Palawan—demonstrate that local communities are already stepping up to safeguard the environment, signaling a shift toward collective responsibility in environmental protection.

National minorities are pivotal in climate action, drawing on traditional knowledge to sustainably manage resources and influence environmental policy development.

Central to the Green Agenda is the principle of climate justice, recognizing that vulnerable groups, particularly the impoverished, face the harshest consequences of climate change and must have a voice in decision-making processes.

In light of these pressing challenges, it is crucial for the nation to expedite its commitment to climate action. Initiatives such as the extension of the zero-tariff policy on electric vehicles serve as a step forward, aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels while fostering the transition to clean energy alternatives.

Nonetheless, the need for substantial investments in disaster risk reduction remains paramount. Given the escalating frequency of extreme weather events, the Philippines must prioritize the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure to shield vulnerable communities from the escalating threats posed by climate change.

Yet, despite some progress, the influence of entrenched industrial interests continues to impede the enactment of effective climate policies. This highlights the urgent necessity for voters to demand accountability from politicians, ensuring that environmental sustainability remains at the forefront of the political agenda.

The science is irrefutable: without immediate and decisive action, the Philippines faces an impending convergence of crises—biodiversity loss, resource depletion, and climate-induced displacement—each compounding the others in a vicious cycle.

True reform resides not merely in promises before the polls, but in accountability that compels leaders to fulfill their roles. A sustainable future hinges not on votes alone, but on the enduring commitment that follows.

Electoral bias remains entrenched, with vested interests eclipsing the climate’s urgent cry, yet it is the voices of scientists, national minorities, and local organizers—rooted in lived experience—that rise, demanding a future founded on justice and sustainability.