Guest Column: THE GREEN TEA by Billie Dumaliang*
Pyramids, deserts, and mysteries may come to mind when one thinks of Egypt. But far from mystery, Egypt became the stage for direction and clarity as the world faces a climate emergency. As the venue of the 27th United Nations (UN) Climate Conference, or COP 27 in short, more than 40,000 heads of state, ministers, activists, scientists, and citizens descended upon the “gift of the Nile” last November 2022 to negotiate terms for our collective future.
What made this COP special? Branded as the “Implementation COP,” it was going to be focused on action rather than talk. For the first time in its history, there was going to be a Youth Pavilion, where youth-focused organizations can hold discussions and showcase their projects on the sidelines of the negotiations. “Loss and Damage” became part of the formal agenda for the first time as well — where countries most affected by the climate crisis would finally be compensated by those who have accelerated our predicament.
Filipinos have borne the brunt of this crisis, to say the least. The 2022 World Risk Index report ranked the Philippines as the country most exposed and most vulnerable to natural hazards.
In this fight against the climate crisis, advancing civil society action is key — we are already taking action to prevent, minimize, and repair climate losses and damages, but it’s nowhere near the necessary scale. To this end, my sister Ann, who is a managing trustee at the Masungi Georeserve Foundation and a National Geographic Explorer, was invited to share her experience at COP 27 by no less than the UN Climate Action High-Level Champions Dr. Mahmoud Mohieldin and Nigel Topping.
This was our first live participation at a UN Climate Conference and one that we knew was a rare opportunity to share our story on mobilizing civil society to restore forests. It is one of the most cost-effective ways of mitigating climate change (the conference, in the past, has been known to spare little space for civil society).
For the last five years, we have been working on a project to reforest degraded watershed areas around the Masungi limestone formations in Rizal in what we call the “Masungi Geopark Project.”
Our key message: “To my fellow civil society actors here in COP, we are not mere observers, not in this COP and certainly not in global climate action. We are the co-captains of this ship that we are all in — a ship that is in danger of sinking more and more from unfulfilled promises. The faster we and the government can recognize that we are drivers, not observers, the faster we can go past the illusion of progress, and elevate and accelerate solutions for a just and immediate climate action.
If Masungi Georeserve, an organization with a humble beginning but enormous determination and conviction can do this, imagine what could be accomplished by civil society and the big organizations with their influence, resources, and power. Imagine what government leaders and genuine advocates can do together.”
Our message was simple but powerful: we can survive tomorrow but only if we do it together. Our participation, and those of many other Filipino advocates at COP 27, reminded me that as with many things, our greatest struggle can also be our greatest opportunity.
With an average of 20 typhoons a year, the Philippines could become the world’s expert in disaster management and resilience. We are one of the most biodiverse countries in the world — we are best positioned to be a leader in working models of nature-based solutions like reforestation and rewilding. Having the highest social media usage in the world as well, Filipino movements and campaigns that change the status quo could serve as a benchmark for others.
Because the impacts of climate change are felt here more than in other areas of the world, climate action should form our national identity and inform our national priorities. Taking the lead in climate action and negotiating for compensation is imperative to our nation’s survival.
No less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has already spoken about climate justice in his international engagements. It is now critical to follow through on this and build an effective culture of climate justice and environmental conservation in the entire government and citizenry.
However, climate action is nothing without empathy. Amid all the talk, news, research, and debates, our compassion for people most affected by stronger typhoons, displacement, and harassment from environmentally destructive interests should be at the heart of our efforts.
One person reminds me of leadership and empathy.
Standing out in a park ranger’s uniform in an ocean of people in suits, Ann and I met Carlos Manuel Rodriguez in Egypt in 2018 during the UN Biodiversity Conference. He is famous for being the Costa Rican environment minister who reversed deforestation in his country.
While handing my sister Ann and me one of our first international recognitions, he whispered, “Promise me you won’t give up no matter what,” as if knowing what lies ahead for young conservationists like us. Four years later, Ann met Carlos Manuel again during COP 27. He said to her, “I hope you have good news for me!” She began to tell Carlos about our project’s pits and peaks in recent years. Ann smiled knowing that we kept our promise to Carlos four years ago — we did not give up, and we never will.
* Editor's Note: Billie Dumaliang is advocacy officer and trustee of the Masungi Georeserve Foundation, which she co-founded with sister Ann. Masungi Georeserve is a conservation and geotourism project awarded with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Action Award in 2022, and the Global Water Changemakers Award in 2021, among others.