Mitzi Jonelle Tan, Convenor / International Spokesperson

pronouns: she/her, they/them

Short biography
Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a full-time climate justice activist based in Metro Manila, Philippines. She is the convenor and international spokesperson of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP), the Fridays For Future (FFF) of the Philippines, and is on the steering committee of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Youth Climate Justice Fund. She is also an organizer with FFF International and FFF MAPA (Most Affected Peoples and Areas) making sure that voices from the Global South are heard, amplified, and given space. A strong voice on anti-imperialism, anti-colonization, and the intersectionality of the climate crisis, she is committed to systemic change and collectively building a world that prioritizes people and the planet, through
organizing, global solidarity, and collective action.

Photos can be found here.

More information here and on instagram.

Photo by MIDIA NINJA

Latest piece: Climate Justice cannot be Separated from Migrant Justice

Climate and Social Justice:

Divestment and Climate Finance:

To world leaders:

Biography
Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a young climate justice activist from the Philippines. The Philippines is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, and one of the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders. She has always been very passionate about the environment.

While studying at the University of the Philippines Diliman, she was a student leader in the College of Science Student Council and was part of the environmental concerns committee. In 2017, Mitzi was able to talk with one of the leaders of the Lumad indigenous group in the Philippines who told her about how they were being militarized, displaced, harassed, and killed — all for defending the forests, the environment, and their home. This is why they have no choice but to fight back — that was when she realized that we need collective action to push for systemic change.

In 2019, she was one of the convenors of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines, the Fridays For Future of the Philippines, and has been raising awareness, talking to policymakers, organizing strikes, and strengthening international solidarity globally ever since. As the steering committee member of two global groups, namely the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Youth Climate Justice Fund, as well as being active in Fridays for Future International, Mitzi consistently brings her advocacy for climate justice, intersectional environmentalism, anti-imperialism, and leadership of the vulnerable everywhere she goes. She has addressed world leaders in different bilateral dialogues, consultations, and meetings, including the United Nations Secretary-General and the Senior Management Group, and on several high-level stages such as at the United Nations Climate Change Conferences, and more. She always fights to ensure that voices from the Global South are heard, amplified, and given space. Through love, joy, and daring to imagine, dream of and build better worlds, through organizing, global solidarity, and collective action — climate injustice will be addressed.

Why are you striking?
The Philippines is the one of the most vulnerable countries to the climate crisis, yet our contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions are minimal. With this planetary emergency, common sense would dictate that climate would be at the top of the agenda and those already protecting the environment would be listened to. Instead, we have no concrete climate plans, our environmental activists and defenders are being killed, harassed, and displaced. The willful ignorance of world leaders is pushing us all to become climate activists, pushing us all to strike for justice. I am an activist because I don’t want to be afraid anymore. No one should ever be afraid of drowning in their bedroom because of the floods. No one should have to sit in the dark because their power is out and a typhoon is raging outside. I am an activist because of my deep love for the people and the environment, a love that binds me to the movement calling for climate and social justice. This same love and sense of community within the movement has given me a glimpse into the future that we are building together, and it is full of warmth, joy, love, dancing, singing, and more. In this better world, we all feel safe. Pockets of this future we are fighting for already exist, and we must lean into it, dare to imagine, create, and build better worlds together — one where no one is left behind.

What action would you like to see on climate in the immediate future?
In the Philippines, we need to declare a people-defined climate emergency and impose a moratorium on any new dirty energy and environmentally destructive projects, such as reclamation projects and mega-dams. We need to have concrete people-centered climate adaptation policies with proper implementation. We then need to start developing and prioritizing research and development into renewable energy and consulting with the people, especially the workers, farmers, fisherfolk, and urban poor on how to begin our just transition. Empowering the youth and those most vulnerable with knowledge is also a key part of ensuring active citizen participation in climate policy building. We also need our national leaders to echo the voices of the youth and the environmental defenders and truly demand climate justice not just through words but also through actions by putting a stop to the imperialist plunder of our lands. This is the complete opposite of what is currently happening in the country where environmental defenders and activists are tagged as terrorists, harassed, abducted by military, killed, and more — making the country one of the most dangerous in the world for environmental defenders. Carbon majors need to drastically reduce their carbon dioxide emissions with concrete plans and not just say net-zero by a date that’s too far away as if it’s a magic wand that answers everything. Multinational companies and Global North leaders need to pay reparations to the people in the Global South for the climate injustice that is happening –but not at the expense of the regular citizens in the Global North who are now also starting to experience the impacts of the climate crisis. All this, and more, is needed if we want to survive.