Youth-led research and action on health and climate change in the Philippines

Young people in the Philippines experience multiple climate extremes every year, yet little is known about the full range of impacts these have on their health and wellbeing.

Young people have experiences, skills and expertise and have the right to be involved in understanding the situation and coming up with the solutions.

We are taking our first steps to work in respectful partnership with Filipino young people to co-lead research and action that safeguards their health and wellbeing in the face of climate change.

When it comes to climate extremes, the Philippines is among the most at-risk in the world:

• About 20 tropical cyclones (typhoons) cross the Philippines every year, with about half of them making landfall.
• Excessive rainfall events are also common. These often cause catastrophic floods, landslides, and mass internal displacement, destroying homes, compromising health and livelihoods, and forcing many families into evacuation centres.
• In recent years, extreme heat has also caused class suspensions, putting young people at risk of heat-related conditions and disrupting their education.

Adolescents face heightened risks of adverse health and social impacts of climate extremes.

Importantly, young people—who will live with the impacts of climate change throughout their lifetimes—are often left out of decision-making on these matters.

We’re establishing a youth lab to support young people to drive research and advocacy in the Philippines. Working with 12 young experts, our aim is to define young people’s research and action priorities in relation to climate and health, and explore the feasibility of establishing a youth research hub in the Philippines.

Through participatory approaches we will work with young experts to:

• understand their lived experiences of climate extremes
• define their health and wellbeing priorities, and the skills and resources they need to co-lead research and action
• co-create a model of youth-led research and action.

Our initial area of focus is on climate extremes and young people’s health. Our vision is broader – we aim to:

• support young Filipino experts to co-lead transdisciplinary research that identifies solutions to large societal challenges they identify as important in their lives.
• establish a Philippines youth lab within our regional network of youth labs across Asia and the Pacific to transform global health research.