Ezra Undag

Master in Sustainability in the Urban Environment, The City College of New York (CCNY)

Why are you excited to be part of this fellowship?

I am excited to be part of this fellowship because I will be able to strengthen my capacity to translate research insights on waste management, community organizing 

and climate justice into actionable initiatives within CUNY campuses. I look forward to learning from and collaborating with peers, mentors, and partner organizations on how to effectively design, advocate for, and implement climate justice initiatives in 

institutional settings, while ensuring they are accountable to the communities most impacted by environmental harm.

What climate justice issue is most important to you and why?

The climate justice issue that is most important to me is the intersection of global systems of consumption, discard, and waste, particularly as they impact frontline communities. It is important to me because it is part of my lived experience as a Filipino immigrant. Growing up, I witnessed how communities in the Philippines—one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world—face repeated devastation from typhoons, flooding, and displacement. Moving to the United States, I carry with me the knowledge that what is often discussed as “climate change” in the abstract has already been the daily reality for many families back home. Through this Fellowship, I hope to bring my personal perspective as an immigrant and my commitment to community organizing into conversations on climate justice, bridging local student action with global realities.