‘Powering Tomorrow’ through renewable energy, a just transition
On April 10, the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability co-hosted a culminating event, “Energy in Transition: Powering Tomorrow,” for the exhibit of the same name, located at the Securities and Exchange Commission Foyer A from April 7 to 10. The exhibit and event were co-hosted by the German Embassy Manila and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
As heads of the co-organizing institutions of the exhibit, Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ and German Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke kickstarted the program with the welcome and opening remarks. Father Yap emphasized Ateneo de Manila University’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and the university’s goal to shift to 100-percent renewable energy across all its campuses, underscoring the importance of community-wide engagement in this endeavor. He also shared the ongoing initiative of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS) to develop a Sustainable University Master Plan.
Meanwhile, Dr. Pfaffernoschke highlighted how initiatives such as the exhibit can foster meaningful collaborations. The traveling exhibit showcased three areas within the global energy transition—renewable energy, mobility, and a just transition. It invited visitors to explore local perspectives from different parts of the globe, reinforcing the idea that grassroots experiences are important to crafting effective global solutions.
Shared responsibility
Messages of support were also delivered by Dr. Rowena Cristina Guevara, undersecretary at the Department of Energy, and Immanuel Gebhardt, country director of GIZ Philippines and Pacific Island Countries. Guevara shared how efforts toward an energy transition are a shared responsibility, with the Philippines’ goal of increasing renewable energy to account for 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. Earlier that week, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla had visited the exhibit and expressed his support to just transition initiatives, as well as research on renewable energy.
Likewise, Gebhardt expressed his continued support through ongoing collaborations with the German Embassy and AIS. He emphasized that the long-term pursuit of renewable energy not only advances SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), but also strengthens partnerships between institutions, ensuring that innovative solutions and best practices are shared, thus touching also on SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Key strategies
In his keynote message, City Administrator of Quezon City Michael Victor Alimurung, representing Quezon City Mayor Ma. Josefina Go Belmonte-Alimurung, shared the city’s responsibility in addressing climate change and promoting environmental sustainability through a series of programs, services, and initiatives. He also outlined key strategies undertaken by the city such as the electrification of the bus fleet of the Q City Bus Program and tracking the city’s emissions with a strong emphasis on accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources.
Lastly, showcasing Ateneo de Manila’s prowess and impact on energy research, Dr. Erees Queen Macabebe, chair of the Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering, tackled the value of renewable energy and a just transition. She presented current forecasts on renewable energy sources, noting its increasing viability and integration into the country’s energy mix. Central to her message was the importance of collaboration and involvement, stating that energy transition relies not only on technological advancement but also on active engagement and collective action, touching on the social impacts of energy and ensuring a just transition.
The Ateneo Institute of Sustainability was established in 2013 as the hub on sustainable development of Ateneo de Manila University.
Daniel C. Ratilla and Ivy Geraldine Ferrer are from the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability and the Department of Environmental Science, Ateneo de Manila University.
