Casting a Green Vote: Youth Advocates Rally for Climate Action and Electoral Integrity Ahead of Earth Day 2025

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As the climate crisis continues to intensify, a bold and unwavering voice rises once more from the youth sector. On April 11, 2025, the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP) will gather students, activists, and concerned citizens for a powerful Earth Month event titled "Casting a Green Vote: Environmental Forum for the Midterm Election" — a call for urgent climate justice through meaningful political engagement.

Hosted at Room 411 of the Student Union Building, University of the Philippines Diliman from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM, the forum sets the stage not just for dialogue, but for direct democratic action, as it aims to empower voters — especially the youth — to critically assess and support candidates championing environmental and climate-responsive platforms.

But the day doesn’t end there. At 4:30 PM, the forum will spill into the streets with a youth-led climate strike outside Vinzon’s Hall, reigniting the Fridays for Future energy that once swept the globe. This isn’t just a demonstration — it’s a declaration that the youth are not only the voice of the future but the conscience of the present.

A Forum with Purpose

YACAP, a nationwide alliance born in 2019, has never been content with lip service. This Earth Month, they are once again proving that advocacy must be grounded in action. The forum’s agenda includes:

Voters’ Education: A crucial component to inform and equip participants with the tools to vote smart, green, and informed.

The Youth Climate Agenda Presentation: A manifesto curated by the alliance's organization signatories — detailing climate demands and sustainable policy recommendations.

Voices from the Frontlines: Reactors from marginalized and most climate-vulnerable communities will share testimonies, including representatives from:

Bayan Muna Bagong Silang Navotas Chapter

PAMALAKAYA Navotas (National Federation of Small Fisherfolk Organizations)

PISTON (Public Transport Alliance)

Jonila Castro, a staunch environmental defender from Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment

These voices bring an urgent realism to the discourse — a poignant reminder that climate change isn’t just a statistic. It's a lived reality in the slums, fishing communities, and jeepney terminals of the Philippines.

Political Endorsements with Principles

One of the most awaited parts of the program is YACAP’s official endorsement of candidates and party-list groups aligned with their environmental and climate agenda. This bold move not only reinforces their commitment to electoral participation but also sends a clear message: climate action must be political, and politics must be climate-responsive.

In a time when greenwashing is rampant, YACAP stands firm — advocacy must have accountability.

More Than a Movement

Media coverage is encouraged, with photo opportunities available throughout the event. But beyond media presence, YACAP is calling on individuals and organizations to deepen their involvement. Their invitation is clear: join the alliance, amplify the cause. Interested parties can sign up for orientations via yacap.org/join-us/#orgs.

As the country approaches its midterm elections, Casting a Green Vote is more than a forum — it’s a roadmap. It challenges all of us, especially the youth, to make decisions that will define not just the next few years, but the future of generations.

In the face of escalating climate disasters, the youth are not backing down. They are mobilizing, organizing, and yes — voting.

Because this Earth Day, it’s not just about planting trees or picking up trash.

It’s about planting the seeds of leadership and picking the candidates who will fight for our planet.

By Ross Flores Del Rosario, Wazzup Pilipinas Founder

Ross Flores Del Rosario is the founder of Wazzup Pilipinas, a passionate advocate for sustainable development, youth empowerment, and government transparency. As a former United Nations ICT Officer and current External Vice President of the Green Party of the Philippines, he continues to champion causes that resonate with the heart of the Filipino people.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.