Filipino and South Korean University Students Pledge Collaboration for Environmental Conservation

Quezon City – University students from the Philippines and South Korea convened for a global environment forum on Sunday, where they shared strategies to enhance global environmental awareness.

According to Philippines News Agency, a Home Economics student from the University of the Philippines, the forum not only increased her awareness of current environmental challenges but also motivated her to mobilize her peers. The event saw a participation of 300 Filipino and 500 South Korean students who pledged to undertake actions aimed at mitigating climate change and other environmental issues.

The forum was organized by Daejayon, an international environmental NGO officially registered with Korea’s Ministry of Environment, and was supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), an entity under South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Ministry. During the forum, environmental experts from Philippine academia and the United Nations Development Programme imparted knowledge to encourage students to act.

Woo Jin Jeong, Tea Tree Club president from South Korea’s Kookmin University, shared online best practices for environmental sustainability, like proper waste segregation, employed in schools. Woo urged the youth to become “multipliers” of environmental awareness.

Rico Ancog, professor and dean of the University of the Philippines in Los Baños-School of Environmental Science and Management, stated that the collaboration between Filipino and South Korean students is strategic for at least two reasons. First, Korean technology has significant potential for climate mitigation and adaptation in the Philippines. Second, preparing the youth to think about climate-related challenges is crucial for future environmental sustainability.