Background

According to the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI) study in 2020, Filipinos’ awareness towards climate change ranged from ‘had not heard of’ to ‘did not feel well-informed’. At a national average, only 12% felt that they are extremely well-informed or has heard a lot about the topic. However, 70% claimed to be concerned of the effects of climate change which then results to taking actions to prepare for future disasters.

Climate awareness and literacy among the youth sector is an essential element to the global response to climate change. Education, awareness-raising and movement building enable informed decision-making, empower the future leaders to adopt sustainable lifestyles, and play a crucial role in the mitigation and adaptation capacity of communities. Thus, the roles of the academic sector and youth groups and organizations are critical in this endeavor.

This event is designed to serve as a platform to surface the challenges in the youth and academic sector and to invite more stakeholders and participants, especially emerging energy youth leaders, to take a proactive role in raising climate awareness and sustainable energy literacy.

Objectives

  • To share the results of the study titled "Sustainable Energy Innovation in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Philippine Higher Education Institutions", initiated by New Energy Nexus, with the goal of understanding the gaps and possibilities for the academic sector in supporting the demand for energy professionals and entrepreneurs.
  • To provide a platform for youth leaders, organizations and alliances to discuss the current challenges in raising climate awareness and sustainable energy literacy.
  • To encourage emerging youth leaders and the general audience to promote climate and energy literacy with the goal of eventually building a sustainable energy and climate-aware community.

Agenda

Time (Manila) Activities
08:00-08:05 p.m. Opening and context setting
08:05-08:15 p.m. Keynote Presentation: Results of the Study "Sustainable Energy Innovation in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Philippine Higher Education Institutions"
08:15-08:23 p.m. Reaction from OurEnergy2030 Coalition Youth Org: UP Diliman College of Law & Manila Observatory
08:23-08:31 Reaction from OurEnergy2030 Coalition Youth Org: De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila Chemistry Society
08:31-08:39 p.m. Reaction from OurEnergy2030 Coalition Youth Org: DASIG, Saint Louis University Baguio
08:39-08:47 p.m. Reaction from OurEnergy2030 Coalition Youth Org: Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP)
08:47-08:55 p.m. Reaction from OurEnergy2030 Coalition Youth Org: UP Association of Biology Majors
08:55-09:00 p.m. Closing message and call to action: Marlon Apanada, OurEnergy2030 Convenor

Learn More about Speakers

About Organizers

New Energy Nexus is an international organization that supports clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, accelerators and networks. We started in California and also operate programs in China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. Since 2004, New Energy Nexus has leveraged $1.5 billion in investment, invested in over 150 clean energy enterprises, and launched industry leading centers for solution collaboration. Our network includes more than 100 incubators and accelerators, funders and development organizations from 29 countries around the world. OurEnergy2030 is  a youth-led intergenerational  alliance-building platform to define 2020-20230 as the “decisive decade of action”.  Convened by recognized energy transition leader Marlon Apanada, OurEnergy2030 was launched in February 2020 and is currently housed under the Manila Observatory Energy Collaboratory, with the  Ateneo Global Climate Corps, under the Student Council of the Ateneo de Manila University (Ateneo Sanggunian), acting as as its interim youth secretariat.  Among its core coalition partners are the international NGO leading sustainability in the healthcare sector,  Healthcare Without Harm, the international NGO leading sustainability among local  governments ICLEI, energy trading startup Exora, the global startup incubator New Energy Nexus, and Prof. Tony La Viña, who now chairs a council promoting Philippine energy  independence. The coalition has since grown to more than 30 organizations, with the newest members being from the youth and student sectors.

Point of Contact

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