ADVOCATING FOR the environment in recent years has taken on a form similar to fashion, where seasonal trends dominate, and old ones get disregarded. New trends, like buying a new water flask or looking for vintage clothing, encourage us toward products and lifestyles that supposedly promote eco-friendliness, but everything in between is made into an aesthetic.

Action is often limited to consuming products labelled as sustainable, and guilt can easily be assuaged by throwing a plastic bottle into the recycling bin or sharing a social media post spreading awareness on the latest environmental issue.

We have been practicing environmentalism like a hat we can take off at the slightest inconvenience, and our minimal efforts ultimately remain well within “business as usual.” But environmentalism is not meant to be comfortable.

Why should it be comfortable when the worst kind of environmental degradation leads to a cascade of impacts that we cannot fully comprehend? Ecosystems are increasingly endangered because they cannot cope or adapt fast enough to changes in the environment.

Why should it be comfortable when every year the number of climate migrants increases? Those who are already vulnerable because of weak political institutions are made even more so by tepid or ineffective interventions that claim to protect the environment.

Why bask in the comfort of today, when tomorrow is already slipping out of our grasp?

The theme for Earth Day 2026 is “Our Power. Our Planet.” It is a call toward the realization that passively waiting for the climate crisis should not be an option before taking action. It is no longer sufficient to patiently anticipate the fruition of the “grand plans” that government bodies and corporations have promised to reduce environmental impact.

“Our Power. Our Planet.” emphasizes that collective climate action greatly influences change. We are reminded that our current progress towards a sustainable future took decades of public action, with millions of people raising their voices and demanding that world leaders stop harming the Earth that we claim to love.

The progress we have made was borne out of years of people deciding to step into the unknown and embracing the discomfort of going against the grain.

But how can we even begin to make meaningful strides in this collective movement?

First, it requires the critical examination of our current habits, of the brands we patronize, and of institutions and their efforts towards environmentalism. The things that we have normalized in our modern life must be given special attention, as these are what we often neglect to analyze.

Afterwards, one must determine whether change is necessary, especially when what has been deemed to be the standard or the tradition is doing more harm than good. Regardless of the necessity or the scale of change, remember that action can come in many forms.

You can join peaceful demonstrations, participate and vote in civil society, support grassroots organizations, promote climate literacy, and contribute to ecosystem restoration, just to name a few.

Last, but just as equally important—be ready to face opposition. The environment is not fought for alone, because the fight for the environment is also a fight for the people.

Environmentalism is not comfortable. Like everything that is difficult in life, it will chafe, and you will struggle. Some days, there is nothing more tempting than giving up and giving in to the tides of popular opinion, but there is something satisfying when you know that you have fought for tomorrow and done more than the bare minimum.

Advocating for the environment is more than fashion or a lifestyle. It is a way of seeing the world as more than oneself and recognizing where one’s advocacy has become self-serving. Now is the time to stop waiting and start taking action.

Jigs Lirios is a fourth-year Environmental Science student at the Ateneo de Manila University, and is the outgoing President of the Ateneo Environmental Science Society. She is dedicated to be in the service of others and hopes to aid in the development of people and environment-centric public areas.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.