Paper Short Abstract:

This paper investigates the grassroots efforts of three Metro Manila-based environmental groups to “unwrite” national and local government development and environmental discourses that are antithetical to environmental protection and climate change preparation in urban spaces. It discusses how they are “unwriting” official narratives and practices by promoting relevant legislation, drumming up community participation through the use of social media, and fostering cooperative action between national and local governments, civil society, and the public in protecting Metro Manila from climate change.

Paper Abstract:

This paper investigates the grassroots efforts of Metro Manila-based environmental groups to “unwrite” national and local government development and environmental discourses that are antithetical to environmental protection and climate change preparation in urban spaces.

The looming climate crisis exposes urban spaces' fragility to the negative effects of the rapidly changing climate. Densely populated urban spaces are most vulnerable to the heat island effect, flooding, rising sea levels, and the health and socioeconomic effects of all these intertwining factors.

Many major cities in the developing world often give primacy to urban development over environmental concerns. In Metro Manila, only 12 percent of green spaces remain with the rapid urbanization of the megapolis. While laws are in place to create and protect forests, tree parks, watersheds, and wetlands in urban spaces, few local government units prioritize this. Most city executives emphasize infrastructure and economic programs to address what they perceive to be the most pressing needs of their constituents, ignoring that the worsening climate change situation could spell disaster to the larger community.

This paper examines the efforts of environmental groups to drive interest among local government officials and the public to build, preserve, and protect the last bastions of green spaces in Metro Manila. It discusses how they are “unwriting” official narratives and practices by promoting relevant legislation, drumming up community participation through the use of social media, and fostering cooperative action between national and local governments, civil society, and the public in protecting Metro Manila from climate change.