PE2 inspires energy efficiency start-ups in Ateneo event
QUEZON CITY, 29 October 2024 – Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) president Alexander Ablaza spoke before students of Ateneo de Manila University on why energy efficiency (EE) should be scaled-up as the first fuel of the country’s net-zero transition in PE2’s bid to inspire the design and launch of green start-ups involved in deploying energy efficiency technologies, solutions and services. The TALAB 2024 event, entitled “Innovating for our Common Home: Sustainable Tech and Social Entrepreneurship in Integral Ecology,” was organized by Google Developer Student Clubs Loyola (GDSC-L).
Ablaza said, “Both the Paris agreement obligations by 2030 and net-zero aspirations by 2050 will urgently need significant emission reductions through scaled -up energy efficiency. While we all hope COP29 will operationalize the COP28 consensus for the doubling of the rate of average global primary energy intensity improvement from the 2022 level just over 2%, to slightly above 4% until 2030, we need global energy markets to gravitate toward planning energy efficiency as a primary energy resource – an indigenous fuel to be dispatched with priority.”
To emphasize the vast human resource requirement of energy efficiency before the student audience, Ablaza added, “Over 9 million energy efficiency jobs can be generated in the Philippines through 2040, if the economy succeeds in mobilizing PHP 12 trillion in EE capital flows.”
Other resources persons in the TALAB 2024 event were Ysa Gabriel of PE2 member firm, Schneider Electric Philippines and Erwin Lizarondo, who established the linkage between social entrepreneurship and ecology.
GDSC-L planned the event to inspire attendees to think creatively about how technology can be harnessed to promote sustainability. The session touched on the challenges and opportunities in launching and scaling green startups, as well as the importance of integrating social responsibility into business models.
Google Developer Student Clubs Loyola (GDSC-L) is a student technology organization that aims to build one's skills, careers, and networks in the technology industry through various projects and initiatives, all to build solutions for Filipino communities. GDSC-L envisions itself as a well-rounded community of student developers that uplifts communities through technology by making technology education, products, and opportunities more accessible.
