EDITORS DESK The ages between 15 to 24, as described by the UN for statistical purpose, is "youth."  Even though you are youthful-looking with the proper exercise, good diet, lucky genes (or even botox), once you are past the age of 24 like me, you are not part of "youth" anymore. A week ago was International Youth Day. There were no celebratory events as aside from the fact that we are still in the middle of a pandemic, there was nothing to celebrate about. Right at about the same time, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN-IPCC) released an alarming report about the state of our planet. I read through the long six-chapter report online, which was very presentable and came with graphics, charts, and explainers. The clear and orderly report could not hide the fact that our Earth is in shambles. What caught my attention was a chart showing the impact of every rate of increase of global warming. In short, there is a corresponding consequence for every action. This paragraph from the report puts this "consequence" in context: "Change in climate means and extremes have knock-on effects for the societies and ecosystems living on the planet. Climate change is projected to be a poverty multiplier, which means that its impacts are expected to make the poor poorer and the total number of people living in poverty greater. The 0.5 degree Celsius rise in global temperatures that we have experienced in the past 50 years has contributed to shifts in the distribution of plant and animal species, decreases in crop yields, and more frequent wildfires." So what does this mean for the youth? I read a striking statement from Danielle Madriaga, a youth cluster coordinator of The Climate Reality Project Philippines, who wrote: "This International Youth Day, we must acknowledge how gravely our society has failed the youth." This may be a blunt statement, but this is nonetheless irrefutable to the core. And I agree with this assessment. Even living amid a bleak chapter in history, there is hope in the youth. Contrary to jaded perceptions that the youth would rather play online games, watch Netflix, or choose what IG filters to use for their selfies, this is not the case with Danielle and her team of youth volunteers. "Despite being the least responsible for the current climate catastrophe and despite bearing the brunt of its impacts, the youth, with a resolve that’s unshakeable even in times when hope is dim, refuse to sit idly by and give up on the only Earth we’ve ever known. Therein, I believe, lies the power of the youth: its hope. We find ourselves at the crossroads not only of our personal histories but of humankind’s history," she wrote. I was informed that her youth cluster is not only about talk. Last week, they also launched "Race to a Better Reality," a project in partnership with Light of Hope PH, to raise funds to provide solar panels for Pangan-an Elementary and High School, which is in an island community vulnerable to flooding due to sea level rise. They're also making sure that people watch Joe Gantz’ documentary, The Race to Save the World, which is about the fight for an accelerated energy transition to renewables as well as inter-generational responsibility. With doomsday scenarios playing right before our eyes like an apocalyptic movie, with the sins of our forebears catching us to ask for retribution, we can only wish that climate solutions are not too late, and that the youth of today would learn from the mistakes of yesterday. (Johannes L. Chua is the editor of the Environment page.