Do we need to care about climate change? | Maye Yao Co Say - BusinessMirror

Do we need to care about climate change? | Maye Yao Co Say

WE now hear the term “climate change” more than we did a decade ago. But do we really know what it means? According to the United Nations, “Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions.

But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car, or using coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions.

Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.” The UN report also says that climate scientists have proven that humans are responsible for global heating over the last 200 years, which has caused the average temperature of the Earth’s surface to now be 1.1°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s.

Today, global tech company HP Inc. announced new global research revealing the serious actions many parents are taking due to climate change, from everyday decisions to long-term family planning.

The global study found 91 percent of parents are concerned about the climate crisis, leading to changes that reshape their lives and purchasing habits. More than half (53 percent) say it has impacted their perspective on having more children. The research also found many parents favor companies that are taking action to address climate change and expect businesses to lead on the issue. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of parents prefer products that are sustainably sourced and 60 percent say sustainable company practices play a large part in their purchasing habits.

This willingness to seek out sustainable products and decisions comes despite the fact that the vast majority of respondents (84 percent) acknowledge the cost of living is rising and more than half (57 percent) believe engaging in environmentally friendly practices takes up a lot of time.

“We are seeing how climate change has transformed family life,” notes Christian Reyes, managing director, Philippines, HP Inc. “Parents now have a higher awareness of how decisions made within the home can impact their communities. HP wants to help Filipino families by creating opportunities that enable them to make more sustainable choices.”

While parents are taking personal action, most also believe key players in the corporate world must act too. Most parents surveyed globally (51 percent) believe that companies have “a lot” of responsibility in holding themselves accountable on climate action, as opposed to customers (36 percent).

The findings come as HP released its 22nd annual Sustainable Impact report, detailing the company’s progress toward comprehensive and bold environmental and social goals.

- HP has reduced its absolute carbon footprint by 18 percent since 2019. This brings the company closer to its goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040—end to end.
- Reduced single-use plastic packaging by 55 percent compared to 2018.
- Counteracted deforestation for 41 percent of all paper used in HP products and services toward the goal of 100 percent.
- Accelerated digital equity for more than 21 million people in path to 150 million by 2030.

In the Philippines, where access to learning opportunities continues to be a challenge for many young learners, HP works with organizations like Atayde Foundation and Teach for the Philippines (TFP) to help bridge the divide.

With the help of Atayde Foundation, HP provided 150 learning kits for kindergarten and Grade 1 learners in some of the most remote communities in the Philippines: Isabela City, Basilan; Northern Sagada, Mountain Province, and Nueva Valencia, Guimaras. In addition, HP supported 68 new and tenured teachers who have been deployed and are undergoing continuous professional development through TFP’s leadership development programs. HP also supports TFP’s Batang Bayani Life Skills Development Program (BBP), which aims to support parents in helping their children learn at home, and to equip students with life skills that help them transition to hybrid ways of learning in the new normal.

The tech giant aspires to be the most sustainable and just technology company. In 2021, HP set aggressive Sustainable Impact goals in three areas where the company believes it can make the most difference: Climate Action, Human Rights and Digital Equity.

The 2022 report details progress toward all three focus areas including a net zero carbon value chain, giving back more to forests than we take, creating a more circular economy, building a culture of equality and empowerment, and accelerating digital equity around the world to enable traditionally excluded communities to thrive in a digital economy.