FEU Public Intellectual Lecture Series | Redentor Constantino | Part 2

Summary

Redentor Constantino argues that climate solutions are already technically available; the main obstacles are political will and citizens’ ability to influence governments, businesses, and communities. He urges collective action and optimism rather than focusing only on the scale of the crisis.

Climate and energy

• Energy is presented as the largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions, largely because of fossil-fuel use.
• The shift to clean energy is described as feasible and capable of creating jobs. Wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and hydropower are said to employ more people collectively than fossil fuels.
• Renewable-energy prices have fallen sharply. The speaker cites a 99% decline in solar prices since 1976 and expects prices to continue falling. He warns that new coal plants could become “stranded assets” as renewables grow more competitive, leaving citizens to bear the costs of poor investment decisions.
• The speaker cites the Philippines’ reliance on coal: 47.5% of its power generation comes from coal, 75% of its coal is imported, and 70% of those imports come from Indonesia. He argues that expanding domestic renewable energy could improve energy security, affordability, and long-term reliability.
• Global projections cited in the lecture call for coal to be phased out by 2030.
• Climate action is framed as both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity. Improving infrastructure, supply chains, food systems, and urban services to withstand climate impacts could create jobs and support economic development.

Other climate solutions and “sideways” approaches

The speaker recommends looking beyond the most obvious interventions, since action in one area can help address broader causes of the climate crisis:

• Empower women and educate girls. He argues that population growth is not the main driver of current emissions, which are disproportionately produced by the wealthiest and highest-consuming groups. Women’s empowerment and girls’ education are presented as ways to support smaller, more manageable households and lower consumption.
• Improve buildings and reduce refrigerant use. More energy-efficient buildings that make use of natural light and cooling could reduce reliance on air conditioning and refrigeration, including refrigerants identified as F-gases.
• Prioritize moving people, not cars. Better mass transit could make transportation more accessible and reduce the dominance of private cars.
• Consider more plant-based diets. The lecture notes that producing meat, such as pork, beef, and poultry, generates emissions, and encourages lower-emission ways of producing and consuming food.
• Act collectively. Individuals have more influence when they work together, participate as citizens, and make their voices heard.

The lecture closes by emphasizing that individual decisions matter and that collective action should be urgent but hopeful.

Researchers and sources mentioned

• Jane Hirshfield — quoted on decisions, faith, and different possible futures.
• Unspecified scientific assessments and studies — referenced for claims about technical feasibility, clean-energy employment, energy costs, and coal-plant economics. No individual researchers or study titles are named.