Winner of IRENA Youth Video Contest Announced

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More than 100 video submissions received from young people around the world

After receiving more than 100 video submissions from young people around the world, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) congratulates Jasper Mallonga for winning the IRENA Youth Video Contest. The contest, launched during the first IRENA Youth Talk held on 8 June 2020, focused on the theme ‘Renewable Energy in the Time of COVID-19: Youth Actions for Recovery’ and encouraged young people to voice their opinion on social media.

Jasper Mallonga delivered a powerful video message urging the world to get behind renewable energy to build a resilient, sustainable and inclusive future. IRENA will invite Jasper to participate in the IRENA Youth Forum in January 2021.

Jasper, a mechanical engineer born and raised in Manila, now lives in Vancouver where he continues to advocate for renewable energy development back home. He is currently involved as a project coordinator at Reboot Philippines, a youth-led organisation that advocates for a renewables-based energy transition in the country.

“I was really excited with this competition because I realize how powerful social media and storytelling are as tools in communicating renewable energy and our need for a just energy transition,” said Jasper Mallonga. Speaking to IRENA he added: “One minute isn't enough to lay down all the facts and arguments surrounding renewable energy, but it is enough to send a message that goes around and stays with people.”

A selection committee made up of four representatives from youth constituencies of the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY) and three representatives from IRENA evaluated video submissions based on relevance, originality and impact. Entries were submitted through social media using the hashtag #IRENAyouthcontest via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Speaking on the result of the contest, the UNMGCY panel members said: “The winner of the contest showed the linkages between the COVID crisis and climate change, and that we should give the energy transition similar urgency as the current crisis.”

The young representatives also praised the other participants for inspiring young people to get involved in the renewable energy sector.

A few notable entries from around the world

 
 
 
 
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We are very proud of EnergyC's first project, “Youth of Energy”. It was the first step towards fulfilling the dream of developing and driving the next generation of specialists in the energy sector. We close this cycle thinking about the future, of course! It could not be otherwise: energy is a vector for changing the global economy and, for us, it is urgent to get our hands dirty to build that future. Therefore, it is essential to create spaces to raise awareness about renewable energy sources, so that we can guarantee energy efficiency, universal access to clean energy, and sustainability. >> Renewable Energies in Times of COVID-19: Youth Actions for Recovery In the mentorships carried out at Jovens de Energia (Youth of Energy), we made sure to cover the importance of renewable energies in the energy transition, with their potential for the short and long term, in addition to their economic and social impact on our society. Talking about renewable energies is to talk about the future that begins today and now. @irenaimages #irenayouthcontest

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