Learn more about one of our inspiring EO Ambassadors, Marinel Ubaldo, the incredible work she’s done so far in her hometown, the Philippines, and on the global stage, ahead of her appearance at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY) this November.
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Marinel Ubaldo is one of the leading young female climate activists that is driving change in Asia. An advocate for climate justice and environment issues, Marinel has been a vocal figure and change maker in the Philippines from collaborating on Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to implementing a Conference of Youth at a local scale. What’s more, she’s about to serve as the country coordinator for the Philippines at the upcoming The UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16) in Glasgow in November.
Her Journey to Become a Climate Activist
Marinel is a registered social worker and helped found the Youth Leaders for Environmental Action Federation, a youth-led organisation based in Eastern Visayas that aims to mentor youth individuals and organisations in climate advocacy.
Educating youth and local communities plays a significant role in her activism, and is incredibly passionate in talking about climate action, global policy, and more importantly, the role youth communities can play in mitigating the effects of climate change.
Marinel’s activism however, is not limited to education and awareness. Varying from ecological justice campaign for Living Laudato Si’ Philippines, to leading community immersion to the donation of solar lamps to the community of Forest Rangers in Cebu.
Muriel is also determined to make up for the lack of representation from Southeast Asia in the global arena. “I want to bring the voices and stories of the youth and communities from the frontline to the global arena and to show the human face of the climate crisis,” says Muriel. “People in the frontline should be part of the decision-making processes, their voices should be heard, listened to, and considered in negotiations and decision-making processes, especially on things that involve us.”
For Marinel, it’s not about “monetary, fame, nor any material gains”, but simply “the acknowledgment of the climate crisis and to give justice to those who have suffered and died because of climatic disasters.”
Her Biggest Projects to Date
Marinel Ubaldo is no stranger to the international stage. During the opening of the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris and in UNFCCC COP 25 in Madrid, she spoke to world leaders on behalf of Filipinos on the climate mitigation policies. She was previously trained by former US Vice-President Al Gore as a Climate Reality Leader, and played a role in the Climate Justice Liability Public Hearing during the Climate Week in New York USA last September 2018.
Marinel was also recently selected to represent the Philippines at the #Youth4Climate: #DrivingAmbition event in Milan, Italy this September. Hosted by the UN, the conference is a unique platform which will see young activists much like Marinel share and put forward ideas and concrete proposals on the climate agenda.
However, Marinel will be tackling her biggest role yet as the country coordinator for the Philippines at the upcoming The UN Climate Change Conference of Youth (COY16) in Glasgow in November. Dubbed as the largest and longest running youth event to date, the conference will see thousands of young changemakers much like Marinel, from more than 140 countries put forward policies towards the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), which will be taking place right afterwards.
Aside from representing the interests of the Philippines and Southeast Asia and at COY, Marinel hopes the platform can provide an often overlooked perspective to the international stage. “I want the statement to be a document that would start a greater partnership between key government agencies with other INGOs and youth organisations,” she claims. “The youth statement can be the main tool in identifying the pressing climatic issues that youth are facing in their localities and the ways that they are dealing and addressing those.”
