When it comes to saving the earth, there鈥檚 no such thing as too young听
By Patricia B. Mirasol听
, a children鈥檚 book written by geology professor Alyssa M.听Peleo-Alampay, shows how听sustainability and climate change听can be tackled at an individual level.听听
Stewardship of the earth听is听taught in schools, said Ms.听Peleo-Alampay, but not in a way that makes students feel that they can be part of the solution.听
鈥淭he most important takeaway should be that the climate change we are experiencing today as global warming is not going to go away in our lifetime. It will take the earth some time to adjust since the change has already started,鈥 she told听大象传媒听in an e-mail, adding that the Philippines is a country which is and will continue to be among the听worst hit听by global warming and climate change.听听听
鈥淭he message of being good to, and taking care of, the earth will help improve our way of life for the present and the immediate future for our generation. It is a win-win situation.鈥澨听
Aimed at children between six and twelve, the book includes interactive activities,听environmental lessons, and听illustrations by members of Ang听Ilustrador听ng Kabataan, a local association of artists.听听
It was produced with the help of Union Bank of Switzerland, which is also distributing听the book in the communities it supports.听听
STARTING THEM YOUNG听
Greenpeace Philippines campaigner Marian Ledesma said it鈥檚 never too early to educate children on climate change and sustainability, including through hands on-activities.听听听
鈥淎ddress misconceptions at an early age,鈥澨齭he听said in a separate e-mail. 鈥淎llow kids to create their own content. You can get an idea of how they understand environmental problems and engage them from there.鈥澨听
Filipinos are starting to walk the talk听when it comes to sustainability, and companies are taking note. Corporations such as Monde Nissin, for instance, are giving their product development and innovation plans听a health and sustainability emphasis听by offering听meat alternatives like Quorn, for example.听听
Others firms, like building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc., are offering听more environment-friendly products听such as blended cement.听听
Meanwhile, a 2021听听by GlobeScan, an insight and strategy consultancy, noted that only 24% of experts believe the pandemic will make sustainability a lower priority, down from 49% in 2020.听听
A third of respondents also think that more attention will be given to the environment because of the pandemic.听听听听
As a Singaporean respondent from Singapore put it, 鈥淚f the world can听find the money to deal with the economic and health impacts听of the pandemic, it must do the same for the climate crisis.鈥澨听
听听
Every purchase of听听is matched with book donations to two children from poor and disadvantaged communities in the Philippines in support of听, an initiative by the book鈥檚 publisher CANVAS.听
