SU shares path to campus sustainability at nat’l confab

Silliman University (SU), represented by Asst. Prof. Jane Annette L. Belarmino of the College of Business Administration, highlighted the University’s sustainability initiatives at the Net Zero Carbon Alliance (NZCA) Conference on September 19, 2024, at The Fifth at Rockwell.

In a breakout session, Belarmino emphasized SU’s dedication to becoming a model for sustainable campuses by developing its Environmental Principles, Policies, and Guidelines. These frameworks have guided the university in adopting zero-waste practices, implementing a waste management hierarchy, promoting energy conservation and renewable energy use, leading biodiversity conservation efforts, and reducing its carbon footprint.

Belarmino was SU’s former Vice President for Development. During her term, she led her division in collaborating with various stakeholders to implement initiatives aligned with the University’s Environmental Principles, Policies, and Guidelines. Her team was also instrumental in making SU among the founding members of the NZCA, an organization whose goal is to engage in collaborative efforts with numerous companies and organizations, all dedicated to achieving net-zero emissions by or before the year 2050.

The NZCA conference, themed “Strengthening Resilience: Scaling the Philippine Private Sector’s Net Zero Ambitions,” served as a platform for businesses, policymakers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to discuss strategies for driving a meaningful, equitable, and sustainable net-zero transformation in the country’s private sector.

Federico R. Lopez, chairman and CEO of First Philippine Holdings Corporation, set the tone for the conference in his keynote address, highlighting the severe impacts of climate change and underscoring humanity’s vulnerability to the increasingly destructive forces of nature.

Given this reality, Lopez said, “There is no other way to go but Net Zero.” This road involves three key phases: first, reducing the current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 59 gigatons per year, with a peak by 2025; second, eliminating all GHG emissions to reach Net Zero by 2050; and finally, reducing atmospheric GHG concentrations to achieve net negative emissions.

The other invited speakers were Hon. Jose Manuel F. Alba, representative, Bukidnon 1st District and co-author, HB 7705 the Philippines’ Low-Carbon Economy Bill; Sec. Robert E. A. Borje, vice chairperson and executive director, Climate Change Commission; Lloyd Cameron, Economic and Climate counsellor, British Embassy Manila; Orkhan Mustafayev, senior advisor to the High-level Champion on Business Engagement for COP29; John Leo Algo, climate and environmental journalist and communicator; Frances Ariola, head of Corporate Communications, Energy Development Corporation and lead convenor, NZCA; Erwin Avante, chief finance officer, Energy Development Corporation; Allan V. Barcena, AVP and head of Corporate Support Functions, EDC and executive director, NZCA; Arnold S. Belver, EnP, Development Management Officer IV, Policy Research and Development Division, Climate Change Commission; Jonathan Breton, global director, Built Environment, BSI; Daniele Coronacion, executive advisor, GHD Pty Ltd; James Daniel, Philippines Country manager, SLB; Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason, SVP & Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer, Converge ICT; Katrina Francisco, partner, Climate Change and Sustainability Services, SGV; Betsy Galang, senior country officer, ICT; Paulo Gooco, head of the Corporate Environmental Management Department, Energy Development Corporation; Ceejay Hernandez, vice president, Corporate Sustainability, HSBC Philippines; Atty. Ray Thomas Fernandez Kabigting, legal officer and officer-in-charge, Forest Investment Development Division, Forest Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Heng Dean Law, managing director, Pollination; Samuel Manlosa, Chief Sustainability Officer, Holcim Philippines; Jasser Morales; HSE lead, Mondelez Philippines; Kristina Samantha Pobre, Head of Sustainability, Arthaland Corporation; Emmanuel Portugal, head of Technology Solutions, Pi Energy; Carlos Pedro Salonga, head of Human Resource and Administration, First Balfour; Ava Taniajura, managing director, BSI Group Philippines; and Tom van der Meulen, managing director, Control Union Philippines.