In a 2018 study done by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it was concluded that if humans do not take immediate action to limit their carbon footprint by 2040, the earth will become damaged beyond repair. As carbon traps heat, the earth will experience more extreme and more frequent natural disasters such as droughts, devastating wildfires, massive floods, deadly hurricanes, and widespread famine. However, despite this warning, many companies and individuals alike still choose to stick to their old ways.
In a 2019 survey conducted by the Yale Program, it was noted that 70% of adults aged 18 to 34 say they worry about global warming compared to 56% of those aged 55 or older. This is attributed to the fact that millennials (those born between 1981 to 1996) and Gen Z (born between 1995 to 2010) are more aware of what is going on in the world due to the widespread use of the internet. As such, these younger generations are more likely to practice an eco-friendly lifestyle to lessen their carbon footprint.
In addition to this, younger generations are also more aware of the fact that saving the earth requires the effort of every human on the planet. This means that they also demand that their communities and the people around them practice an eco-friendly lifestyle. They are less concerned with financial growth and more with if they can still live on this planet in a few years’ time. As climate activist Greta Thunberg said during her scathing United Nations Climate Action Summit, “People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth.”
With these generations now making up 40% of the consumer workforce, the demand for companies to become more conscious of their environmental impact is higher than ever before. In a study made by Porter Novelli in 2019, 93% of Gen Z say that companies must have appropriate programs and policies in place to back up their commitment to their initiatives, while 75% say they will check if a company is being honest about their initiatives or not. In short, this generation of consumers is conscious of where their money goes and will support companies that share similar values and are genuine and active in supporting their plights.
As such, the Philippines has seen a trend of various sectors taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, reusable straws and other utensils have become more widely used as more and more restaurants forgo disposable utensils for take out orders. Some personal hygiene companies have opened various refilling stations of their products to encourage customers to reuse bottles of shampoo and soap. E-trikes and other e-vehicles have been introduced in an effort to reduce emissions caused by traffic. While these initiatives have reduced the amount of waste produced, the country cannot just stop there.
One industry that should be at the forefront of this movement towards more environmentally-conscious business operations is the energy sector, as transitioning to clean energy will make a large impact on reducing the world’s carbon emissions. One concrete thing this industry can do would be to hasten the transition to cleaner sources of energy, while addressing the intermittency of renewable energy sources, such as Solar and Wind, by pairing them with a clean and stable complementary source, such as natural gas. While Solar and Wind emit zero emissions and are becoming more affordable, there is still a need to provide economic ways of maintaining energy security when there is not enough sunlight or wind speed. Natural gas is a clean and reliable energy source that can help fill this role.
Although a fossil fuel, natural gas emits up to 60% less carbon than coal and does not leave behind harmful by-products such as sludge or ash. This makes natural gas the cleanest of the fossil fuels. Moreover, natural gas is flexible and reliable, able to quickly provide power when other sources suddenly become unavailable or intermittent. Because of these, natural gas can help encourage the increased use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind for a fully decarbonized future. Companies such as First Gen have advocated for the combination of natural gas and renewable sources in order to reduce carbon emissions.
The transition may seem daunting, but it is of utmost importance. With only a short span of time to save the planet from irreversible damage, transitioning to natural gas and renewable energy is necessary to pave the way for a decarbonized and regenerative future. With this in mind, companies and older generations alike must join in the youth’s fight to not just preserve but renew our natural resources for future generations.