STUDENTS from 29 universities and colleges from around the country joined a P1-million competition launched by First Gen Corporation for them to develop the best and most innovative ideas and solutions to cut their schools’ carbon footprint.

First Gen opened the tilt, dubbed “Code Green for Campuses,” as a way of encouraging students to contribute to the campaign against adverse climate change—a problem being aggravated by the continued buildup in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide and other heattrapping greenhouse gases.

The competition challenges the students to submit solutions and ideas in response to the following problem statement: “Given climate change, schools and universities are encouraged to look for ways to limit their carbon footprint. With this in mind, what innovative solutions and programs can you develop to manage, if not limit, your school’s current carbon footprint?”

Ricky Carandang, First Gen vice president and head of corporate communications, said that the school whose team submits the best solution or idea of decarbonization will win a P1-million prize in the form of an innovation fund for use as seed capital to bring to life the winning proposal.

Carandang said that at least 52 teams from 29 schools, including the country’s top universities and colleges, registered as participants in “Code Green for Campuses” during its recent virtual launch hosted by actor and motivational speaker RJ Ledesma.

The launch was supported by officials from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as well as event partners Edukasyon.ph, One Cainta Food Program, SustainaRumble and Nomura Research Institute-Manila Branch.

The finals presentation will be held at the Novotel Manila Araneta City in Cubao on March 16, 2024.

Aside from the P1-million innovation fund for the winning school, the student team that tops the competition gets a P100,000 prize, the first runner-up receives P75,000, the second runner-up P50,000, third runner-up P30,000 and fourth runner-up P20,000.

First Gen is implementing the “Code Green for Campuses” competition also as part of its adherence to parent firm First Philippine Holdings Corporation’s mission of forging collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future. (Story/Photos by: Joel Gaborni)