December, 30 2025

Typhoons, rising sea levels, and unpredictable weather patterns are now the new normal for Filipinos. Still, the discussion about climate change remains too distant and abstract, focusing on melting ice caps, carbon emissions, and temperature statistics. What’s missing from this narrative is a more immediate, personal truth: climate change is not simply an environmental issue—it’s a public health emergency.

Extreme heat puts us at risk of heatstroke and dehydration, especially for those working under the scorching sun, such as construction workers and farmers. Flooding makes communities more vulnerable to waterborne diseases, such as leptospirosis. Air pollution worsens asthma and cardiovascular conditions. And then there’s the impact on mental health, particularly in communities repeatedly displaced by typhoons or droughts[1].

The country’s insular geography significantly limits access to healthcare, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. Only about half of the Philippine population has access to a healthcare facility within 30 minutes[2]. Many Filipinos are also unable to afford hospitalization and medications, often choosing to carry the burden of disease in silence[3]. This is evidenced by the fact that 70% of Filipinos still rely on traditional medicine[4].

Why, then, does climate change remain a marginalized concern among those most deeply impacted by its effects? Because the story often leaves them behind. While the statistics may be accurate and important, they fail to tell the story of lived experiences on the ground.

Thus, to bridge this gap, we need to tell the story differently. It should be based on the daily experiences of Filipino communities and framed through a lens that speaks to everyone: health.

This is exactly where young people are stepping up, not just as future leaders, but as today’s storytellers and changemakers. They are reshaping the narrative from the ground up, linking the climate crisis to the everyday struggles of communities. The urgency requires not just new data, but new approaches to listening, connecting, and leading with well-being and community at the center of the conversation.

A powerful example of this grassroots leadership is the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council’s (NYC) collaboration with the Gawad Kalinga community in Brgy. Escopa III, Quezon City. In a learning session co-organized with the St. Luke's Medicine Student Council, youth volunteers created space for open discussion on waste management, illustrating how environmental responsibility is closely tied to both physical and mental well-being.

During the activity, volunteers shared practical strategies for sustainable living, while community members shared their experiences with these strategies. The highlight of the event was the collaborative design of customized trash bins. This hands-on initiative not only promoted proper waste disposal but also instilled a sense of pride and ownership within the community.

Through open dialogue and shared action, the activity reflected the community’s commitment to adopting healthier, eco-friendly practices. More than just an awareness campaign, the session became a platform for sharing lived experiences, fostering mutual understanding, and affirming that real change begins at the local level. By grounding advocacy in empathy and everyday experience, climate advocacy becomes more impactful and more human.

Reframing the climate crisis as a public health issue helps people understand its relevance and builds greater motivation to act. For young people in particular, this connection opens new avenues for advocacy, ranging from public health campaigns to engagement with local governments and policy.

The climate narrative has to change. It must capture the lived realities of communities, the urgency of protecting health, and the unique energy and innovation that youth bring to the table. Because when we protect the planet, we’re not just preserving landscapes and seascapes–we’re protecting ourselves, our communities, and future generations.

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Frances Danielle “Dani” de Leon is a medical student at St. Luke’s Medical Center College of Medicine-WHQM and a dedicated advocate for planetary health, youth empowerment, and universal healthcare. As a member of the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council, she actively champions the vital link between human health and environmental sustainability, advocating for systems-level change through community engagement. Through her medical training and grassroots work, Dani brings a uniquely interdisciplinary lens–bridging science, advocacy, and lived experiences in addressing today’s environmental challenges.

References:

[1] Rocque, R. J., Beaudoin, C., Ndjaboue, R., Cameron, L., Poirier-Bergeron, L., Poulin-Rheault, A., Fallon, C., Tricco, A. C., & Witteman, H. O. (2021). Health effects of climate change: An overview of systematic reviews. BMJ Open, 11(6), e046333. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046333

[2] Flores, L. J. Y., Tonato, R. R., dela Paz, G. A., & Ulep, V. G. (2021). Optimizing health facility location for universal health care: A case study from the Philippines. PLoS ONE, 16(9), e0256821. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256821

[3] Collado, Z. C. (2019). Challenges in public health facilities and services: Evidence from a geographically isolated and disadvantaged area in the Philippines. Journal of Global Health Reports, 3. https://doi.org/10.29392/joghr.3.e2019059

[4] Capuno, J. J., Kraft, A. D., Poco, L. C., Quimbo, S. A., & Tan, C. A. R. (2019). Health conditions, payments, proximity, and opportunity costs: Examining delays in seeking inpatient and outpatient care in the Philippines. Social Science & Medicine, 238, 112479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112479