Klima Eskwela 2025 kickstarts in Butuan

Empowering the youth to find their climate action niche

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On May 21, The Climate Reality Project Philippines held its first leg of Klima Eskwela at Caraga State University in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

Designed to engage students in addressing the climate and plastic crises, Klima Eskwela is an offshoot project of the Climate Reality Philippines' Plastic-Free Reality Program. Every year, the organization takes Klima Eskwela to different provinces, training student leaders in movement-building for climate action.

This year, Klima Eskwela also serves as a launching pad for Project Niche, an incubator program that empowers the youth to solve their communities' problems with plastic waste.

"Klima Eskwela harnesses the Filipino youth's potential as leaders in climate action. After all, no one is more suited to build a sustainable future than those inheriting it. Klima Eskwela prepares them for that goal," said Joseph Pilapil, current Engagement and Plastic-Free Reality program lead of Climate Reality Philippines.

Supporting school-based climate action

One of the consistent "topnotch-ers" in heat index lists, Butuan City is no stranger to the adverse impacts of global warming, one of the many facets of climate change. These impacts are worsened by the widespread deforestation around Butuan, which increases its flooding risk.

Butuan City's familiarity with the many faces of climate change is the reason why the organization chose it as the host city for its first Klima Eskwela this year. Leveraging that familiarity, Klima Eskwela deepened the discussion of climate change by tracing its connection to the plastic crisis.