In 2025, a decade after environmental advocates began resisting a coal-fired power plant in Atimonan, Quezon, the project is set to resume construction — a stark reminder that the fight against pollution in the Philippines is far from over. For Franciene Enriquez, who was only 11 when the Atimonan One Energy (A1E) project was first proposed, this development means the battle she joined as a child continues into her adulthood. She now leads Kabataan para sa Kalikasan ng Atimonan (KAPAKANAN), a youth group that has faced red-tagging and surveillance for its opposition. Her story is not an isolated one. Across the country, young Filipinos are stepping into the frontlines of environmental action, from blocking coal plants to shaping national climate policy.
These figures frame a movement that is both urgent and organized. The youth activism in fighting climate change has evolved from isolated protests into structured campaigns that engage with government processes, international commitments, and local energy transitions. What follows is a closer look at how young Filipinos are uniting to fight pollution — and what their efforts reveal about the challenges and possibilities ahead.
How Young Filipinos Are Driving the Fight Against Pollution
The core of this movement is not just about saying no to pollution — it is about building alternatives. The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), for instance, launched a NICE Kids chapter in Bacolod City, where about 40 children learn about climate change through hands-on activities. Paul Serrano, a NICE member, explains emissions from factories and power plants as a blanket that traps heat, triggering stronger storms and drought. This kind of education creates a pipeline: children who understand the problem grow into teenagers who organize, and then into young adults who sit at policy tables.
What makes this generation different is its willingness to engage with formal mechanisms. In August 2025, the Climate Change Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Youth Commission, supported by the United Nations Development Programme, held a series of youth consultations across Manila, Iloilo, and Davao. A total of 119 participants joined workshops, policy simulations, and dialogues that produced a Youth Pledge to Climate Action — a document intended to directly inform the updated NDC text. This is not symbolic participation; it is a structured attempt to embed youth priorities into binding national commitments.
Coal, Resistance, and the Renewable Energy Paradox
The most visible battleground for youth environmentalists has been the fight against coal. In Atimonan, the A1E project promised 6,000 jobs, but Enriquez and her group KAPAKANAN argued that the workers being brought in were not from the town. A coal moratorium temporarily suspended the project in 2020, but by 2025, it was set to resume. The resistance came at a cost: military personnel in civilian clothes infiltrated a meeting Enriquez attended, snapping pictures of her. She later discovered she had been red-tagged — a common tactic against environmental defenders in the Philippines, which remains one of the world’s deadliest countries for environmental defenders.
In Negros Occidental, the story is different but equally instructive. Before Joshua Villalobos, NICE’s secretary general, was even born, the province had already defeated six coal plant proposals through movements led by women, church members, and young people. The last coal plant proposal came in 2019. Protests co-led by Villalobos pushed the provincial government to declare Negros Occidental “coal-free,” and the province is now considered a renewable energy hope spot for the Philippines.
But here is the complication: even though the province produces a lot of renewable energy, it still mostly consumes fossil fuels. The boom in renewables has also sparked new concerns. Solar energy needs land and minerals, increasing the risks of land conversion and mining. So-called “bad renewables” produced through burning, like biomass, also remain a threat. This is the paradox that youth activists now grapple with — defeating coal is not the same as achieving clean energy. The next phase of the fight requires distinguishing between genuinely sustainable power sources and those that simply replace one environmental problem with another.
What Gets Missed in the Pollution Debate
Most discussions about pollution focus on the obvious sources: factory smokestacks, vehicle exhaust, and plastic waste. But the youth-led movement reveals several layers that often go overlooked.
The Generational Timeline of Environmental Battles
When the Atimonan coal plant was proposed in 2015, Franciene Enriquez was 11 years old. She is now 21, and the project is still alive. This means a person can spend their entire adolescence fighting a single pollution source. The emotional and psychological toll of long-term environmental activism — watching a project stall, revive, and stall again — is rarely discussed, but it shapes how young people approach the fight. They are not looking for quick wins; they are building movements that can outlast political cycles and corporate timelines.
The Gap Between Renewable Production and Consumption
Negros Occidental produces a lot of renewable energy, yet it still mostly consumes fossil fuels. This disconnect matters because it shows that pollution’s hidden health costs for Filipinos are not solved by simply installing solar panels. The grid infrastructure, energy storage, and distribution systems must also transition. Youth advocates are beginning to push for policies that address this gap, not just celebrate renewable capacity on paper.
The Threat of “Bad Renewables”
Not all renewable energy is clean. Biomass energy, produced by burning organic materials, releases pollutants and can drive deforestation. Large-scale solar farms require vast land areas, potentially displacing communities and agriculture. Mining for minerals used in solar panels and batteries carries its own environmental and human rights costs. Young activists are increasingly aware that the solution to one pollution problem can create another, and they are demanding transparency about the full lifecycle of energy projects.
Red-Tagging as a Systemic Barrier
The Philippines is one of the world’s deadliest countries for environmental defenders. Red-tagging — the practice of labeling activists as communist rebels — is used to intimidate and silence opposition. For youth leaders, this creates a chilling effect. A teenager or young adult who organizes a protest against a coal plant may find themselves under military surveillance, their photos taken at community meetings. This is not a fringe risk; it is a documented pattern that affects how and where young people can organize.
What Young Filipinos Can Do — and What They Are Already Doing
The youth movement against pollution is not waiting for permission. Here are the concrete actions young Filipinos are taking, and how others can join them.
Join or Start a Local Environmental Youth Group
NICE and KAPAKANAN did not emerge from national organizations — they were formed by local youth who saw a problem in their own communities. NICE launched a NICE Kids chapter in Bacolod, teaching children about climate change through park-based activities. Starting a group does not require funding; it requires a few committed people, a public space, and a clear local issue. The first step is identifying the pollution source that affects your barangay — a coal plant, a landfill, a factory — and finding five to ten people who want to do something about it.
Participate in NDC Consultations and Policy Processes
The NDC updating process is required every five years, and the 2025 consultations showed that youth voices can shape national policy. The Climate Change Commission, DENR, and National Youth Commission are the agencies to watch. Young people can contact their local Sangguniang Kabataan or Local Youth Development Office to ask about upcoming consultations. The goal is not just to attend, but to come prepared with data, local examples, and specific policy recommendations — exactly what the 119 participants did in Manila, Iloilo, and Davao.
Push for Truly Clean Energy, Not Just Renewable Labels
Negros Occidental’s experience shows that defeating coal is only half the battle. Youth advocates must also scrutinize proposed renewable projects. Is a biomass plant really clean? Will a solar farm displace farmers? Are mining operations for solar minerals ethical? Asking these questions requires research, but organizations like NICE are already building the knowledge base. The key is to support energy sources that are genuinely sustainable across their entire lifecycle, not just at the point of generation.
Document and Report Red-Tagging and Harassment
Red-tagging is a serious threat, but it thrives in silence. Youth activists who experience surveillance, intimidation, or harassment should document everything — dates, times, names, and photos — and report incidents to human rights organizations and legal aid groups. Publicizing these cases through social media and trusted news outlets can create pressure and protection. No one should have to fight pollution alone, and solidarity networks are essential for safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NDC and why should young people care about it? ▾
How can I start a youth environmental group if I have no funding? ▾
Is renewable energy always good for the environment? ▾
What should I do if I or someone I know is red-tagged? ▾
Can youth activism really stop a coal plant? ▾
Sources
Pollution’s hidden health costs for Filipinos — Explains the long-term health consequences of air and water pollution that youth activists are fighting to prevent.
The Philippines’ solid waste struggle — Covers the waste management crisis that complements the energy-focused activism discussed in this article.
Young Filipinos push for just energy transition across Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao. Rappler, 2025.
Youth voices are shaping the updating of the Philippines’ NDC. United Nations Development Programme Philippines, 2025.
