A HANDBOOK on climate change and human rights published by UST won first prize in climate action awards organized by an Ireland-based group.
The handbook titled “Climate Change and Human Rights Education for Youth in the Philippines,” was developed and produced by the Dominicans for Justice and Peace and the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation – Philippines in July 2024, was given the 2025 Misean Cara Climate Action Award.
The six-chapter handbook, designed to help educators teach students how climate change impacts human rights, is said to be “the first of its kind” in the Catholic educational setting in the Philippines.
According to the missionary support group Misean Cara, the handbook was tested in over 50 schools, involving more than 100 educators.
“Within its first year, 34 teachers were trained, surpassing targets, and over 9,400 students engaged with its materials,” it said.
The project was also presented to the Philippine Department of Education, Commission on Human Rights, and at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan.
In his foreword, Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan Socrates Villegas said the handbook empowers children and addresses climate and human rights issues.
“Climate change and human rights abuses are glaring signs that we have failed in stewardship and in discipleship,” Villegas said.
Asst. Prof. Froilan Alipao, director of UST Simbahayan Community Development Office, said education helps shape youth into environmental stewards.
“Bukod sa pagpapatuloy ng mga pangangalaga at adbokasiya, ang edukasyon ng mga kabataan ay matalas at susing pamamaraan ng paghuhubog upang maging tagapangalaga at tagapagtanggol ng ating nag-iisang tahanan,” Alipao said in a Facebook post.
The handbook was published by the UST Graduate School Center for Continuing Professional Education and Development, with support from the UST Simbahayan Community Development Office and in partnership with Misean Cara.
Launched in 2020, the Misean Cara Climate Action Awards honor people and projects that take meaningful action against climate change in developing communities worldwide.
