Collaboration key to sustainable progress
Global power, energy and gas technology leader Shell once again showcased collaborative action on sustainability in the Philippines during its landmark event, the Shell Powering Progress Together (PPT) forum, themed “Collaboration for a Sustainable Future.”
In showing how the country is a leading proponent of multi- stakeholder collaboration in the region, the different panel discussions presented concrete examples of partnership where all sectors of society work together to address vital resource challenges.
“Sustainability means leaving something for our children,” said Father Jose Ramon Villarin, S. J., president of the Ateneo De Manila University, during his keynote address.
Enforcing the theme, he said that future generations would need food, water, energy, air and land. “This means we can’t behave like guests at the Mad Hatters’ tea party, polishing off one plate and moving on to the next. We need to act responsibly, leaving something for another day,” he averred.
But the growing demand for food, water and energy in a continuously progressing world has been creating stresses to the environment. David Hone, Chief Climate Change adviser at Shell International, set the tone of the forum as he discussed how a future with net- zero carbon emissions can be achieved by encouraging a “responsible development of all energy sources and trade.”
But Hone recognized that some sectors and some countries would transition more slowly. “Energy transition is not something that will happen in a month, a year or a decade. Our children and grand children will continue to experience it,” Hone said.
More than discussing the challenges and enforcing solutions, the PPT conferences have actually become a venue for forging collaborative initiatives among stakeholders.
Ed Chua, Shell Philippines country chair, underscored examples of these advocacies and encouraged the stakeholders present to take part in worthwhile projects for the future as well.
“The PPT conferences have become a platform for forging collaborative initiatives with advocacy partners such as the Manila Observatory for a climate resilience project, the De La Salle University for the establishment of a water research center and the Mind Museum for the permanent exhibition of ‘Future Cities: Planet-Friendly Technologies. We hope that these projects, and future ones, will be an inspiring example of actual collaboration and action that will encourage you to take part or do the same,” Chua says.
The study, a first in the Asia Pacific region, was spearheaded by Shell with multi- sectoral stakeholders in Marikina City and other non- government organizations.
One of the solutions provided by the study is to develop a greener, resilient and sustainability city. This can be achieved through the use of an alternative and conventional energy system, efficient transport utilizing natural gas technology, waste management, flood management through green infrastructure and other sustainable projects.
Another concrete collaboration is a climate resilience and disaster risk management project.
Shell spearheaded an Automated Weather Station ( AWS) network focused on updating and expanding the existing AWS network of partner climate research institution Manila Observatory, together with Smart Communications.
The PPT forum was held recently at the Manila Hotel, coinciding with the Shell Eco-marathon Asia event where over one hundred student-teams competed to design, build and drive vehicles that can travel the farthest using the least amount of energy. The PPT forum and Shell Eco-marathon Asia were hosted for the third and final time in the country.