By Merlina Hernando-Malipot  To further increase the awareness level on climate change, especially among learners, the Department of Education (DepEd) has provided students the platform to present their climate change adaptation and mitigation proposals. DepEd, through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS), spearheaded the Third National Climate Change Conference (NCCC) in Pasay City recently. With the theme, "From Lessons to Actions: Bridging Schools to Communities, Toward Addressing Climate Challenges” the conference focused on the role of the education sector when it comes to responding to climate crisis. The 3rd NCCC provided a venue for 12 groups of high school students from various regions nationwide in showcasing technological innovations, policy proposals, and advocacy campaigns on climate change adaptation and mitigation; and a platform for discourse and collaboration among learners, industries, social entrepreneurs, academe, civil society, and other stakeholders. The conference was held in celebration of the Global Warming and Climate Change Consciousness Week. During the conference, DepEd’s DRRMS provided 23 learners the platform to present their climate change adaptation and mitigation proposals at the 3rd NCCC. Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, in her keynote message, underscored the role of the education sector in responding to the climate crisis. “Widespread recognition of the youth and the role that they play is needed, and that is what this event provides,” she stressed. Grade 12 student Joshua Villalobos, co-convener of Youth for Climate Hope (YCH) and one of the young people behind #CoalFreeNegros, appealed to educators in the audience. “The climate strike is a manifestation of success in education that can be seen among students who believe in science and that they are part in taking care of what is left,” he said. “It is a manifestation that education has reached our hearts and inspired us to rally behind what scientists say,” he added. Likewise, Joana Mari Pura, a Grade 7 student from Gubat National High School and active member of Seeds of Dreams of ABS-CBN Foundation, also challenged the young at heart to participate in climate action. The mentors and speakers during the conference were Manila Observatory; World Vision International; Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management Foundation, Inc.; Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative; Plan International; Asian Institute of Management – Dado Banatao Incubator; Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA); Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI); Youth For A Livable Cebu (YFLC); World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines; UNICEF Philippines; Greenpeace Southeast Asia; PhilDev Foundation; Youth Strike for Climate PH; UNDRR-ARISE Philippines; National Resilience Council; and Balangay Entertainment. The 3rd NCCC was organized with the support of Save the Children, Oscar M. Lopez Center for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management, World Vision Development Foundation, Inc., Plan International, and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation. Aside from the conference, DepEd’s DRRMS also took part in the climate change advocacy show at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in Pasay City. The DRRMS acknowledged the voices and visions of the 75 learners from the National Capital Region (NCR) during the climate change advocacy show which was anchored on the theme, “A Future Threatened by Climate Change: Voices and Visions of the Youth.” The show aimed to engage family, community, other stakeholders, and learners from the national capital region (NCR) to elevate their voice on the climate crisis through arts. DepEd noted that the show featured different perspectives on climate change based on theater arts performance, ideation, and devising workshop facilitated by the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Sining Galing. “The learners from Kaunlaran High School, Malabon National High School, and Rizal High School recognized their roles in responding to the climate crisis through their own commitment for the environment,” DepEd said in a statement. The advocacy show was the first staged show on climate change in the department. Despite starting with an apocalyptic theme, the performers expressed hope for the future as heard in one of the songs during the show. The three-act play was well-received by its audience calling for a possible restaging involving other key decision makers and distribution of the video documentation for schools. Also present during the Gala Show were DepEd regional directors, schools division superintendents, DRRM coordinators, representatives from both national and local government agencies, and DRRMS partners.