Quezon City to host C40 Cities Regional Academy in Southeast Asia

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




Mayor Belmonte in a meeting with C40 Executive Director Mark Watts, C40 East Southeast Asia Oceania (ESEAO) Regional Director Milag Ballesteros, ESEAO Deputy Regional Director Alissa Raj, and C40 City Adviser Kessica Bersamin

Quezon City takes the lead in addressing the climate crisis in Southeast Asia, as it is set to host this year’s C40’s Southeast Asia Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) Climate Action Implementation (CAI) Programme’s Regional Academy next month.

City officials, policymakers, and municipal delegates from Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Johannesburg, South Africa; Accra, Ghana; and Quezon City in the Philippines will convene to discuss the mainstreaming of Inclusive Climate Action (ICA) and highlight the urgency of building the capacities of cities to adapt and thrive amidst the climate crisis.

The academy will also serve as a venue for city representatives to share experiences, engage in discussions, and learn from one another to stimulate collaboration and accelerate the implementation of policies.

“Quezon City is committed to being at the forefront of creating a sustainable and liveable environment for all. We are thrilled to share our city’s success stories, case studies, and best practices in implementing inclusive climate action with other academy participants. We are also looking forward to learning about other cities’ experiences and programs that we can adapt and initiate in our barangays,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Milag San Jose-Ballesteros, the C40 Cities regional director for East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, said: “By hosting the C40’s Southeast Asia UCAP CAI Programme’s Regional Academy, Quezon City will provide a pivotal platform for global cities to unite, exchange insights, and develop practical solutions for their respective contexts. Together, cities can accelerate the implementation of inclusive climate action and advance climate justice for all.”

Furthermore, the British Embassy Manila is delighted to be able to support Quezon City and all participating delegates in the Academy this August.

British Embassy Manila Economic and Climate Counsellor Lloyd Cameron explained: “Cities are integral to society. They also play a dual role in the climate change space – requiring increasing adaptation measures as well as innovations to grow sustainably as urbanization increases.

“No one city has all the answers to this intersection of challenges. As such, platforms for knowledge sharing and collaboration, such as the UK-supported CAI Regional Academy, are powerful tools that can help facilitate and drive the urgent action required to make cities safer, more resilient, and more liveable,” he said.

Mayor Belmonte with foreign mayors attending last year’s United Nations Climate Ambition Summit (UNCAS) C40 Press Conference

To showcase Quezon City’s climate programs, delegates will also visit several ICA-related initiatives, offering tangible examples and insights for implementing similar measures in their cities.

The C40 Regional Academy is part of C40’s CAI Southeast Asia Programme, funded by the UK Government’s UCAP. This initiative supports 15 cities across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia in implementing impactful climate actions and integrating climate strategies into their urban plans.

In Southeast Asia, the program collaborates closely with Quezon City, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur in addressing the climate crisis through transformational climate action implementation to enhance energy efficiency and expand the adoption of renewable energy in buildings.

C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors from leading cities worldwide. They are committed to a collaborative, science-based approach to fight the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks while improving the health, well-being, and economic opportunities of urban residents.

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Empowering Seniors: The Role of Media and Information Literacy

This is the second part of the four-part series Empowering Vulnerable Populations through Media and Information Literacy.This article shows how Media and Information Literacy (MIL) protects senior citizens by empowering them to navigate digital information safely and confidently, avoiding misinformation and online scams.

Understanding the Vulnerability of Senior Citizens

Senior citizens often face unique challenges in testing the waters of the digital world. These challenges include:

•           Usually, they have limited digital skills. As the saying goes, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.

•           They also face technological barriers and low technological literacy

•           Sadly, they suffer from age-related cognitive decline, which can make them more susceptible to misinformation and online scams. 

Unfortunately, these threats are real. They can have devastating consequences, from financial loss to compromised health decisions. For these reasons, even if the challenges mentioned earlier persist, it has to be addressed because, in this modern digital age, no one should be left behind.

MIL: A Key Tool for Protecting Seniors

Media and Information Literacy (MIL) is crucial to prepare seniors with the skills they need to thrive in the digital age. Remember, they need extra help since they may have may be slower in adapting to new technology.

However, adaptation to MIL education could bring out positive results despite their old age. MIL enhances their critical thinking and analytical abilities. This could help them discern credible sources. In addition, this also allows them to distinguish between facts and fiction. Furthermore, It also boosts their confidence in navigating digital platforms, enabling them to stay connected and access essential services.

Do you remember the challenges mentioned earlier? It could all be prevented once our senior citizens are taught how to use technology such as search engines and social media.

Strategies for Enhancing MIL in Seniors

There are actionable steps that could help our senior citizens to sharpen their MIL skills. These recommendations include:

•           Fact-Checking: Understand that fake news or misinformation may be a new concept to them. So, it is best to educate them on that matter. To help them verify claims, encourage them to utilize reliable fact-checking websites like Snopes or FactCheck.org to verify information.

•           Recognizing Bias: Teach seniors to identify media bias and approach information with a critical eye. They have to understand that media distribution nowadays is democratized. Hence, they are different from the traditional media where there are institutions that check and balance the contents. In these new decentralized platforms, it is hard to determine whether they educate or entertain. Nonetheless, seniors should be taught to question the validity of the content they consume.

•           Evaluating Sources: Provide seniors with tools and techniques for assessing the credibility of sources. In this way they could avoid the online scams or any fake news that targets them.

Community Support and Practical Approaches

On one hand, community programs and resources play a crucial role in promoting MIL among seniors. Programs such as workshops, training sessions, and interactive apps can help them develop digital literacy and critical thinking skills. 

On the other hand, collaboration with family members and caregivers can also provide additional support and encouragement.

Successful MIL Initiatives for Seniors

Initiatives like the Transitions and Elpida Project and SUM (Seniors United Against Misinformation) have demonstrated the effectiveness of MIL training for seniors. These programs empower seniors to resist misinformation and engage critically with the media.

Conclusion

Media and information literacy not only make our seniors informed about modern trends but also safeguard seniors from online threats. As a result, it enables them to participate fully in the digital world. By prioritizing MIL education for this vulnerable population, we can have a safer, more connected, and more informed community. In other words, the digital space should be as safe and inclusive as possible.