PUP partners with 350 Pilipinas on "Climate Deals"

Jimmy Fernando, News, Center for Environmental Studies

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines today adds its voice to a resounding call for a fossil-free world by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with climate justice campaigner 350 Pilipinas.

“This Memorandum of Understanding with 350 Pilipinas shows the University’s commitment for the preservation, conservation, and revitalization of the environment and reduction of its carbon footprint and contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals,” says PUP President Manuel M. Muhi.

For his part, Jimmy Fernando, Chief of PUP’s Center for Environmental Studies said the “climate deal” with 350 Pilipinas is a result of PUP’s efforts to encourage the participation of students, faculty, employees, and our partners from civil society to turn the University into what he describes as “laboratory for green initiatives.”

“PUP is committed to minimize our environmental impact by reducing our utilization of carbon-emitting energy and exposure to climate risks and, increase our exposure to the natural environment and provide opportunities for a healthy and safe environment that is conducive to learning,” Chief Fernando shared.

The PUP and 350 Pilipinas agreement highlighted the need to “design training programs that would help in the University’s goal to reduce carbon footprint for sustainable development.” Both parties also agreed to “train students, faculty and employees on basic theoretical knowledge in the fundamentals of climate justice, inclusive mobility, and decarbonization.”

During the MOU signing, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), one of the partner-groups with 350 Pilipinas, turned over solar home system lamps, solar panels, solar charge controllers, batteries, and accessories that will be assembled by PUP Institute of Technology students under the engineering technology program.

350 Pilipinas is part of the global climate justice movement 350.org founded in the United States. Their presence here in the Philippines was established through grassroots organizing efforts leading up to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009, and then the national climate convergence in 2014. Currently, the group intends to expand its network with PUP as one of its academic partners.