TAU joins global call to ease up climate strains by 2030

Text by Jerome L. Duque

To ramp up climate solutions and roll out the paths for the adoption of new technologies and policies,  Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities (SEED4Com), and Bard College jointly conducted the Worldwide Teach-In (WTI) for Climate Justice as part of the Series 8 of Cross-Sectoral Dialogues on 23 April.

The WTI at TAU was divided into three roundtable discussions. The first part focused on the topic Our Planet’s Well-Being and brought together Dr. Ferdinand A. Dumalagan, Director for Development and Innovation at Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, and Dr. Krittawit Suk-Ueng, Chair of Environmental Science Program of Chiang Rai Rajabhat University’s Faculty of Science and Technology in Thailand. Dr. Dumalagan and Dr. Suk-Ueng engaged hundreds of participants from TAU and its partner institutions by clarifying issues related to wetland conservation and environmental health.

The panelists for the second session include Engr./Enp. Sherwin Valeroso, Head of CENRO - Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Division, Mr. Pedro Angco Jr., a Demo Waste Art Artist from Bohol, and Mr. Eugene Muleya, Director of Information Innovation and Technology in Rural Focus Zambia (RUFOZ). The three experts had an exchange of ideas pivoted around the theme of Communing with Nature. They also explored how communities treat their waste, turn junk into art pieces, and integrate climate education into the school’s curriculum.

For the multi-sectoral conversations on family and youth’s role in promoting sustainability, Ms. Bhavna Mathew, IBPYP Educator from Pathways World School Aravali, India together with her gifted son, Mathew, collaborated with Ms. Shri Tahanie B. Macaumbao, Executive Director, Unawa PH, Mr. Tirso Renante Jr., President, TAU-Crop Science Society, and Ms. Lani Manuel, PRO,  TAU-Forestry Student Organization.

Meanwhile, Dr. Eban Goodstein, Director of Bard College Graduate Programs for Sustainability, and Ms. Farrukh Avais, member of Prime Minister's National Youth Council - Pakistan, also showed their support by inspiring the advocates with their message.

The Worldwide Teach-In is a project of the Graduate Programs in Sustainability at Bard College in New York, USA. Founded in 1860, Bard College is the Fourth Most Innovative School in the 2021 US News and World Report. SEED4Com is TAU’s cohort in the SDGs Academy Philippines.