Across the Seas, Under the Same Sun
Across Seas, Under the same sun By Sophia Kaye Fernandez “I am happy.” This was what the community leaders told me when I asked them about the installation of the solar PV systems in Fiji. At first, I wanted something else: A [...]
Rethinking Inclusivity: Inclusion Beyond Representation in Climate Adaptation
by Micaella Lou-Andrea Garduce Editor’s Note: Ella currently serves as the Senior Urban Transition Analyst under ICSC’s Urban Development Team. Throughout the implementation of the Urban Act project, I have repeatedly listened to presentations on climate change, the risks it poses, and its projected impacts on communities. For [...]
This Is How We #MoveTogether: Unlocking Solutions to Shared Mobility Issues
By Amber Garma Editor’s Note: Amber is currently the Urban Mobility Campaigns Officer under ICSC’s Urban Development Team. When I moved to Metro Manila at the age of 16 to study, I felt like any other probinsyana would – overwhelmed, lost, and unsure about whether I could ever [...]
Learning Beyond Borders: Understanding Energy through Communities
By: Eve Riou Editor’s Note: Eve recently completed her internship with ICSC’s RE-Charge Pilipinas team, where she was based in the organization’s regional office in Tacloban City, Leyte. When I boarded my flight to the Philippines in February 2026, I had a list of things I [...]
Transcending Beyond Plans and Papers
By: Jim Lester Triño As a new member of ICSC's Urban Development Team, I felt like being sent to the Transformative Actions for Climate and Ecological Protection and Development (TRANSCEND) Project’s Landscape Launch Series, as part of my first few missions under the project, was the perfect [...]
Moving Together Towards Sustainable Urban Mobility
by Beau Baconguis EDITOR'S NOTE: Beau Baconguis is a Member of ICSC's Board of Trustees. She delivered this speech during the two-day event Move Together: Regional Exchange and Workshop on Sustainable Urban Mobility and Placemaking in Southeast Asia, held from May 22-23, 2026. Good morning everyone! I am so [...]
Communicating Climate Action From the Ground Up
by Jeanne Pauline Alvarez Editor’s Note: Jeanne Pauline Alvarez is a Communications Officer of ICSC, focused on Media and Events. This piece reflects her insights as one of the facilitators for the Science Communication and Content Development Workshop held last April 28-29, 2026 in Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Climate action [...]
Readiness Before Resources? Why Enabling Conditions Matter for Local Climate Finance
by Jonas Brian Almendrala Editor’s Note: Jonas currently serves as the Manager for Urban Development at the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, supporting partner cities in their climate-readiness projects under the Urban-Act Project. Our usual conversations and discussions on climate finance usually deal with questions on [...]
Women Who Empower More Than Homes
Women Who Empower More Than Homes By Sanafe Marcelo In the small island community of Sulu-an in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, there is only eight hours of electricity that the island can use each day. The lights go out once the clock strikes midnight, and [...]
Beyond Fare Hikes: Investing in Affordable and Inclusive Mobility in the Philippines
by: Arielle Celine Tabinga EDITOR’S NOTE: Arielle Celine Tabinga is the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities’ Manager for Urban Development. This piece reflects her insights from the panel discussion Driving Action for Clear Skies: Inclusive Transport and Community-Led Clean Air Innovations in Southeast Asia and India, a pre-event [...]