Editor’s note: Ten teams will be selected to develop their proposed sustainability projects through a mentorship program. Below is their press release.

Around the world, the impacts of climate change are already being felt across all sectors. It is evident in the occurrence of more frequent and severe weather events, the rise of sea levels, and the continuous increase in global temperatures, among many others that in turn, threaten many crucial aspects of our lives including food security and biodiversity.

Unfortunately, these effects are only bound to worsen over the next few decades according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released last August. Human activities that result in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere are still viewed as one of the main drivers of the climate crisis.

Given the current situation, the need to rethink our development approaches and incorporate sustainability principles in our strategies and plans has never been more urgent. Taking on this challenge and in line with its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Nestlé PH has partnered with the CCC, the agency spearheading the government’s climate change initiatives, for a joint project called “Klimathon: Our Race Towards a Net-Zero Reality.”

With the goal to empower the youth to develop and implement meaningful climate actions to address climate change issues, the Klimathon provides a platform for Filipino youth to spur the development of innovative and sustainability-focused solutions. Participants are asked to develop creative solutions among the following pillars: tackling plastic problems, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and improving food security.

“Half of the world’s population consists of the youth. The Philippines today has the largest generation of young people in its history, comprising 28% of our population. Those of you who are young, who are here today, have a crucial and necessary role in tackling climate change. The Klimathon is a creative platform for you to participate in climate action, to help ensure a livable future on the planet that you will inherit,” said Kais Marzouki, Nestlé PH chairman and CEO.

“It is imperative to work with all sectors – including the youth – in taking a whole of government and whole of society approach in view of intergenerational responsibility. Their future will be paved by the actions we take today,” said Emmanuel De Guzman, CCC secretary.

Participating teams of Filipino students and young professionals will each present a project concept paper based on one of the three focus pillars. From there, 10 finalists will undergo a mentorship program with industry and field experts to refine and further develop their project design. Cash prizes and recognition await the winning teams.

Submission of proposals for “Klimathon: Our Race Towards a Net-Zero Reality” is now open until November 10, 2021, 11:59 PM. Interested participants can head on over to Nes.tl/Klimathon to view the full competition mechanics and how they can join. You may also check out CCC’s and Nestlé PH’s social media pages for more details and updates. – Rappler.com