The 14^th International Conference of the Philippines Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE) was conducted on 09 December 2022 as a tribute in observance of the University of the Philippines Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management’s Silver Anniversary. After 25 years since its elevation from an Institute to a School, the UPLB’s lead unit in environmental instruction, research, and extension, celebrated with a series of activities among which was the recently concluded PNEE scientific meeting. 

Experts and environmental advocates from local and international organizations were gathered together virtually for vibrant discussions on “Environmental Education and Transformative Actions for Sustainability”. The event served as an avenue to share knowledge and practices on how to effectively reshape environmental education programs and projects towards ecosystem restoration; identify key priority resource areas for enhanced capacity of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs); provide a venue to foster environmental leadership and youth engagement to sustain ecosystem restoration initiatives; and share various approaches and practices to increase environmental education and awareness in the new normal.

With Dr. Enrique P. Pacardo’s account of PNEE’s evolution and role in addressing sustainability issues through environmental education; and the overview of the conference by For. Sofia A. Alaira, discussions that revolved around the conference’s theme was set. This topic, according to UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. “is highly relevant in light of the ongoing climate crisis,… and education is an essential tool to counteract this”. He further called for “transformative actions that would ensure the well-being of future generations”. Similarly, Dr. Ramon Docto, PNEE President and President of the Palawan State University, emphasized the role of academe in “preparing students become responsible citizens, globally competitive individuals, and good stewards of nature”. 

This scientific assembly featured four plenary and two panel sessions. During the first plenary session, volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA) were discussed as pressing issues by Dr. Eliane Ubalijoro, a Professor from the Institute for the Study of International Development, McGill University. She also emphasized the importance of digital innovation with consideration of local intelligence in addressing sustainability issues. “Experiential and locally grounded approaches,… are best in environmental education but should be coupled with universal principles with frameworks that can be transposed anywhere in the world”, Dr. Ubalijoro further remarked.

In the second plenary session, the Sustainable Agricultural Landscapes in Southeast Asia (SALSA) was discussed by Dr. Jean Marc Roda, CIRAD Regional Director of Southeast Asian Island Countries. Ambitious plantation and reforestation programs and development of cheap wood material products are promising strategies to help prevent further degradation of tropical forests, according to him.

The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report was the focus of the third plenary session particularly on impacts, adaptation, and sustainability with regard to climate change. With Dr. Wolfgang Cramer, a Professor from the Mediterranean Institute for Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecology in Aix Marseille Universite, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change along with the key pillars towards climate change mitigation were elucidated.

The last plenary session was about significant insights and best practices in instilling environmental awareness among the youth as discussed by Dr. Elena Lopez Gunn, Founder and Director of ICATALIST. She shared about EcoSocial Curriculum wherein climate change and sustainability can be integrated in school curriculum and made available to communities for transformations. EU-GreenComp, Teachers for Future, ICatalist for UNED Green Metrics, H2020 Reset and Edustations, and ICatalist EnviDRONMental were also among the initiatives discussed. 

The panel sessions showcased the role of youth and universities in environmental education and action. The youth in climate justice was presented by the Convenor, Ms. Mitzi Jonelle Tan from the Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP). This was discoursed with a panel of three other active young environmental advocates- Mr. Earl Vincent Cañaveral, President of the UPLB Environmental Science Society, Mr. Kendrick Mico L. Faronilo, President of the Philippine Association of Environmental Science Students, and Mr. Kyerl N. Confesor, Founder and Chairperson of The HEarth Movement.

The other panel session featured the Dark Green School Program (DGS) as a strategy in “Championing Environmental Sustainability in the Campus”. Dr. Angelina Galang, Professor from Miriam College and Former President of the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines (now PNEE), highlighted the significance of this accreditation program that “encourages universities to uphold excellence towards environmental education”. The Dark Green School category, with 7 years of accreditation, is regarded as the highest honor conferred on PNEE member-institutions in recognition of their exemplary achievements and leadership in environmental education. An insightful panel discussion on this was rendered by Dr. Cecilia N. Gascon, President of Bulacan State University and Former PNEE President; Dr. Ramon M. Docto, President of PNEE and of Palawan State University; Dr. Mae Flor Posadas, Board Member of PNEE and Vice President for Research and Extension of the Central Philippines State University; and Dr. Nicomedes D. Briones, Former Director of IESAM (now SESAM) and Retired Professor of SESAM and also Former Secretary, EENP and PNEE.

The event also gave way for the launch of the “PNEE Young Environmental Educator Award” and the relaunch of the “PNEE Dark Green School Accreditation Program.

This PNEE event was in collaboration with the SESAM-UPLB and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), an active partner of PNEE and UPLB. Dr. Reynaldo V. Ebora, the Executive Director of DOST-PCAARRD, thru Dr. Mari-Ann Acedera, the Director of Marine Resources Research Division of the Council, also expressed his well wishes to SESAM and hoped that the “collective efforts during the conference will inspire the Filipino youth to invest in science and be fueled with more dedication to the country and the environment”.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Rico C. Ancog reiterated the challenge on how to design appropriate pedagogical approaches so as to inspire students to become instruments for environmental conservation and management. Dr. Ancog is the Secretary of PNEE and the sixth Dean (10^th head) of SESAM. 

SESAM is a Center of Excellence in the fields of environmental science and management recognized by the Commission on Higher Education. It was first an Upland Hydroecology Program (UHP) in 1976. A year later, it was established as a Program on Environmental Science and Management (PESAM) with funds from FORD Foundation. In 1984, it started offering Master in Environmental Studies, the first graduate studies program in Southeast Asia. Then, PESAM evolved into an institute (IESAM) in 1987, the year that it also initiated the founding of the EENP (Environmental Education Network of the Philippines), a network of higher education institutions (HEIs) advocating environmental science and management. EENP was renamed Philippines Network of Educators on Environment (PNEE) on 22 August 2011. In 1996, IESAM offered the MS and PhD on Environmental Science programs. It was in 1997 that IESAM was elevated into School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM).

The 14^th PNEE International Conference was attended by 150 including participants from the higher education institutions (HEIs), government institutions, and the private sector. (Cherry S. Padilla)