Climate reality leadership corps to hold training in Manila in March

Applications open now to be trained in the Philippines by former Vice President Al Gore and other experts to become a Climate Reality Leader

Press Release
January 20, 2016

Washington, DC – Today The Climate Reality Project announced the 31st Climate Reality Leadership Corps training to be held in the Philippines, March 14-16. The application period for the Manila training is now open, and we will be accepting applications until February.

Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, will lead the Manila training for hundreds of new Climate Reality Leaders providing them with the knowledge and tools to build public awareness of our global climate challenge and drive action for solutions worldwide.

This is the first Climate Reality Leadership Corps training after the COP21 summit held in Paris this past December.

“In December, the nations of the world concluded a bold and historic agreement, demonstrating a strong and unified global determination to solve the climate crisis,” said Al Gore, Chairman and Founder of The Climate Reality Project. “It is now time to take the next step. The Paris agreement lays the foundation for nations, businesses, investors and individuals around the world to work together to bring an end to the fossil fuel era and support the sustainable growth of a clean energy economy. My hope for this training is to build upon the momentum from Paris to work toward solutions from all corners of the world, starting with the Philippines – one of the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.”

Joining Vice President Gore will be an impressive list of world-class scientists, strategists, communicators, and technical specialists discussing the science of climate change, the direct cost climate impacts are having on communities around the world and solutions available to solve the climate crisis.

The intensive program is designed to formally train a new group of community, government and business leaders to become Climate Reality Leaders, who then become change agents in their own communities. They will emerge from the program as energized and skilled communicators with the knowledge, tools and drive to educate diverse communities on the costs of carbon pollution and what can be done to solve the climate crisis.

Thus far, The Climate Reality Project has thousands of Climate Reality Leaders from more than 130 countries, including recent trainings held in Miami, Toronto, New Delhi, Istanbul, Chicago, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, and Melbourne.

For the citizens of the Philippines, climate change is not a far-off, vague notion. It is an everyday reality. The Philippines currently ranks third on the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change due to harsh weather patterns and rapidly rising sea levels. The islands are dangerously exposed to tropical storms, which have increased in frequency and intensity, in fact the country has experience four of its ten most devastating storms in the last decade. Additionally, due to the lack of resources available to many in the Philippines, the impacts of these storms leave a lasting mark.

However, in addition to highlighting the daily challenges faced in the Philippines every day, the training will focus on the country’s unique position to combat climate change on a global scale. As ground-zero for climate change impacts, the Philippines is the strongest voice to lend credence to the global movement, combat the problem and ultimately adapt to the effects. Even though the Philippines is responsible for less than 0.35% of global emissions, the country is actively working to make local alterative energy options the norm. Rooftop solar panels, coconut-based biodiesel and wind farms in Ilocos Norte and Panay are leading to new jobs in the Philippines and supporting the growth of the clean energy economy.

“As a native of the Philippines, I have spent my life working to protect biodiversity and foster sustainable development especially in the small island of Sibuyan, in Romblon province, where we enjoy 100% clean energy through mini-hydro while protecting our watersheds, home to many endangered species of flora and fauna", said Rodne Galicha, Branch Manager for The Climate Reality Project in the Philippines. "I have participated in numerous Climate Reality trainings as a trainee, a mentor and a presenter and am eager to bring this powerful network to the Philippines; the frontlines of those impacted by climate change."