A group of climate activists has set forth on a 1,000-kilometer journey from Manila to Tacloban, marking the start of Climate Justice Walk 2023.

Some 40 activists commenced a 30-day solidarity walk as part of a series of events set to coincide with the impending 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

Super Typhoon Yolanda stands as one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent memory, claiming the lives of at least 7,000 individuals and wreaking havoc on approximately 16 million Filipinos across 44 provinces.

Some P650 billion in damage to the country’s economy was recorded at that time. A decade later, the scars of Yolanda’s destruction continue to serve as a poignant reminder of the dire need for concerted efforts to address the global climate crisis.

The Climate Justice Walk 2023 charts a 1,000-kilometer course, with participants alternately traversing on foot and by bicycle. The central objective of this physically demanding journey is to pay homage to the lives lost to the ravages of Super Typhoon Yolanda and to draw attention to the urgent necessity of climate justice.

Greenpeace Philippines said the solidarity walk aims “to send a message to fossil fuel companies that it’s time to face the people and pay up for loss and damage.”

The culmination of the Climate Justice Walk 2023 is slated for November 7, 2023, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda. The finish line will be the San Juanico Bridge.

All photos by Living Laudato Si Philippines