A Jesuit-run school on Feb. 13 announced its shift to 100 percent renewable energy for its San Juan and Nuvali campuses, officially starting Jan. 26, 2023.
In a statement, Xavier School said that the adoption of more sustainable practices has been a school mandate since 2013, drawing inspiration from Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si, which calls on everyone to care for our common home.
The school’s transition to renewable energy is in collaboration with Shell Energy Philippines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shell – a prominent fossil fuel company and one of the major contributors, known as Carbon Majors, responsible for 63 percent of industrial carbon emissions.
“With the shift to renewable energy and plans to install solar panels at Xavier’s campuses, Xavier hopes to promote the ecological conversion that is so essential to forming persons for others who have the consciousness and the commitment to take care of the environment,” the statement read.
The school said its environmental advocacy across its two campuses encompasses initiatives such as prohibiting PET-bottled drinks, implementing proper waste segregation, and encouraging the use of reusable materials for daily food consumption and office operations.
“The schools’ Science curriculum strives to highlight environmental issues as well,” it added.
The school expressed hope that the “partnerships and other environmental initiatives,” will fulfill its “role of being a steward of Mother Earth.”
“The entire school community is encouraged to continue working together and find ways to always take care of God’s creation for the sake of future generations,” said Xavier School.
