First Gen sparks youth-led energy and climate innovations

Insider Spotlight

• First Gen gathered 62 youth leaders for a climate and energy summit
• Participants developed actionable projects addressing local issues
• Winning ideas received P30,000 seed funding and mentorship support
  
  

Clean energy pioneer First Gen Corp. has brought together student leaders and community representatives for its Youth for Climate and Energy Leadership Summit (YCELS), designed to equip young Filipinos with tools to address pressing environmental challenges.

Held separately in Batangas City and Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, the summit convened 62 youth leaders from public schools and organizations in host communities of First Gen’s power plants.

Why it matters

First Gen said the initiative reflects its commitment to developing the next generation of sustainability champions while deepening community partnerships. The program forms part of the company’s flagship environmental campaign, “Create for the Climate.”

Inside the summit

YCELS combined expert lectures with hands-on workshops on community visioning, root cause analysis, and climate project design. Resource speakers included climate scientists, NGO leaders, and government representatives alongside First Gen executives.

Youth-driven solutions

Delegates proposed real-world projects for their schools and barangays. Among the winning concepts:

• Recycling plastic bottles into functional cleaning tools.
• A solar-powered vending machine designed to operate during blackouts.
• Water dispenser installations to reduce single-use plastic in schools.

Each top project received P30,000 in seed funding and mentorship from First Gen and partner groups to ensure implementation.

The bigger picture

First Gen, a Lopez-led company, is known for pioneering natural gas plants in the Philippines and later acquiring Energy Development Corp. (EDC), the world’s largest vertically integrated geothermal producer.

Its portfolio now spans hydro, wind, and solar, underscoring its role in the country’s renewable energy transition.

By empowering youth leaders with knowledge and practical support, the company aims to extend that legacy into grassroots climate action. —Ed: Princess Daisy Ominga