Code Green PH

𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 | Greenpeace Southeast Asia Activists were detained by Authorities during the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu for holding a peaceful protest urging ASEAN leaders to take action on the plastic crisis and fossil fuel dependence.

Why do we detain the ones who are fighting for our environment rather than the big contributors to the degradation of our planet? Peaceful protest is not the problem; it is the system that turns a blind eye to the effects of its actions on our environment and people.

We at CodeGreen PH call for the immediate release of our activists. And urge the ASEAN leaders to take accountability and listen to the people demanding climate justice.

STATEMENT ON THE PARTIAL REOPENING OF BINALIW LANDFILL

The decision to partially reopen the Binaliw Landfill raises serious concerns, particularly as the issues surrounding the previous landslide remain unresolved.

While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Environmental Management Bureau Region VII (EMB-7), frames this move as a balance between environmental protection and operational necessity, public safety and accountability must not be secondary considerations.

Reopening a landfill tied to a fatal incident without full transparency undermines public trust. The affected families and the broader community deserve clear, accessible, and continuous updates on the status of investigations, accountability measures, and long-term corrective actions. Environmental governance is not only about technical compliance, it is equally about transparency, credibility, and justice.

If reopening proceeds, it must be contingent upon strict, independently verifiable enforcement of all environmental and engineering safeguards. This includes rigorous monitoring of slope stability, proper leachate management, and full adherence to the conditions outlined in the amended Environmental Compliance Certificate. Compliance reports must be publicly disclosed in a timely and understandable manner.

However, this raises a critical concern: if such safeguards were indeed strictly implemented before, the disaster would not have occurred. This calls into question how these standards are enforced in practice. Without clear accountability, independent verification, and full transparency, there is no sufficient basis for public trust that these measures will now be upheld.

Stakeholder engagement must go beyond procedural consultation. Local communities, civil society organizations, and independent experts must be given meaningful roles in oversight to ensure that safety assurances are grounded in verifiable evidence and not mere administrative claims.

Cebu’s waste management challenges are real and urgent. However, expediency cannot justify exposing communities to renewed risk. A sustainable solution demands not only functional infrastructure, but institutional accountability and a demonstrable commitment to preventing another tragedy.

We therefore take a firm stand: the reopening of the Binaliw Landfill must be halted while the case remains ongoing. Anything less compromises justice, weakens accountability, and endangers lives.

We call on the DENR to suspend reopening plans, release full and regular public reports on the status of the case and site conditions, and establish an independent, multi-sectoral monitoring body with genuine community representation.

Public safety is non-negotiable. Accountability is non-negotiable. We cannot and will not accept another preventable disaster.






Words | Catherine Aluba
Pubmat | Zandra Canoy

Four Years of Resistance. Four Years of Collective Power.

For four years, we have stood in unwavering solidarity with communities on the frontlines of climate injustices turning urgency into action and voices into movements.

Last April 26, 2026, we celebrated not only the milestones this organization has reached, but the people who made them possible. The voices that refused to be silenced, the courage that stood its ground, and the youth who chose to act, again and again, because we believe in fighting for something greater than ourselves.

Four years in, and our purpose is clearer than ever.

The fight is far from over, but neither are we. For the planet. For the people. For the future.





Caption | Merl Quiño
Layout | Ram Obedencio

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Code Green PH is a youth-led non-government organization dedicated to environmental protection and climate justice.
As an independent initiative, we operate without external funding and rely on the support of partners and individuals who share our vision. To help sustain our projects and advocacies, you may extend your support through our Finance Officer:
0928 777 1272 CL**K C.

Commercial Fishing | The Hidden Costs of a Growing Industry

When demand for seafood increases, so does the pressure on our oceans. Commercial fishing has transformed from small scale local efforts into a massive global industry worth billions of dollars. But behind this growth are serious ecological and social problems.

Overfishing is a major concern, with many fish populations being pushed to the brink, especially slow reproducing species like sharks. Every year, millions of sharks, dolphins, and sea turtles are unintentionally caught and killed as bycatch, often suffering injuries or death from nets and fishing gear. Practices like bottom trawling damage the seafloor and harm marine habitats, while abandoned ghost gear continues to trap animals long after fishing stops.

This industry also creates economic inequalities. Small scale fishers are often pushed out of their traditional fishing areas by large industrial vessels, which capture most of the profits. Over 80% of global subsidies go to these large fleets, leaving local communities struggling.

The pollution does not stop there. Discarded fishing gear and plastic waste continue to pollute the oceans, threatening countless marine species. The long term effects of these practices endanger both marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Addressing these issues requires community involvement and fair management. Sharing benefits, protecting habitats, and reducing harmful subsidies are crucial steps. Protecting our oceans is not just about saving marine life. It is also about safeguarding the livelihoods and food security of millions worldwide. Immediate action is needed to turn the tide before it is too late.

What we take from the ocean today shapes what it can give tomorrow.

Research file:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GBIyNVF6nNbvksAMhRPNvihqzNTj56LSwsijnIpZzG4/edit?usp=drivesdk






Research | Margaret Leigh C. Alchivar
Theresa C. Beduya
Caption | Ken Noblezala
Layout | Janiel Kaye Montero

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Code Green PH is a youth-led non-government organization dedicated to environmental protection and climate justice.
As an independent initiative, we operate without external funding and rely on the support of partners and individuals who share our vision. To help sustain our projects and advocacies, you may extend your support through our Finance Officer:
0928 777 1272 CL**K C.

𝐔𝐒-𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐯𝐬 𝐈𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐫

The dispute among the United States, Israel, and Iran is a geopolitical and environmental catastrophe due to long-standing disagreements about nuclear development and regional power. Aside from its human and political effects, the war impacts ecosystems, natural resources, and global environmental stability, proving that environmental destruction is a significant consequence of warfare.
Attacks towards fossil fuel infrastructure around the Strait of Hormuz have increased the potential of environmental disasters, such as oil leaks, which might damage the Persian Gulf and surrounding urban areas. The war has also had a significant impact on climate change, emitting millions of tons of greenhouse gases and releasing poisonous pollution into the atmosphere through fuel fires throughout Tehran.






Statement | Johan Pauline Esmeralda
Layout | Angelique P. Gacita

Full statement:
https://acesse.one/0ozea22

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Code Green PH is a youth-led non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental protection and climate justice.
As an independent initiative, we operate without external funding and rely on the support of partners and individuals who share our vision. To help sustain our projects and advocacies, you may extend your support through our Finance Officer:
0928 777 1272 CL**K C.

April 23, 2026 | AI is Thirsty... and We Didn’t Notice

𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐭 𝐃𝐈𝐆𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋, 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐓, & 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄.

But underneath all of that, something very old is being used to keep it alive: 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑. 🌊

Artificial intelligence runs on massive data centers that never sleep (24/7). They heat up, so they need cooling. They need electricity. They need constant manufacturing support, and all of it pulls from freshwater systems more than most people realize.

By 2027, AI-related water use could reach 4.2 to 6.6 billion cubic meters annually. In 2023 alone, data centers already used around 560 billion liters of water, mostly hidden in cooling systems and energy production.

You don’t see it when you use an app. You don’t feel it when you get an answer in seconds. But somewhere else, water is being redirected, consumed, and reduced, often in places where people already struggle to access it.

What’s even more concerning is where this is happening. A lot of data centers are being built in areas already facing water shortages. So while digital systems expand, the pressure on local water supply also grows.

But AI isn’t just the problem, it can also be part of the solution. The same technology draining water can also help protect it: detecting leaks, predicting droughts, improving irrigation, and managing supply more efficiently. It’s a double-edged system... powerful, but dependent on how we use it.

The real question isn’t whether AI is good or bad.

It’s whether we’re building it blind, or building it right.

Building it like we understand the cost, or like we forgot there is one.

Because innovation that forgets the planet isn’t progress. It’s pressure.

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕.







Research | Niña Azumi Lebita
Nicole Ashly Maglasang
Caption | Gwendolyn Opon
Layout | Angelique P. Gacita

Research file: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11bI-jzh9OS8lJvU80hiDhPjDbmAUl4gx_VjnHncvHJ0/edit

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Code Green PH is a youth-led non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental protection and climate justice.
As an independent initiative, we operate without external funding and rely on the support of partners and individuals who share our vision. To help sustain our projects and advocacies, you may extend your support through our Finance Officer:
0928 777 1272 CL**K C.