Meet Tianna: Regional Coordinator for North America
Student Energy’s Global Youth Energy Outlook is led by a team of 12 youth Regional Coordinators who are working together to reach a total of 50,000 young people around the world in 2020 and 2021. As they engage young people in their region through a two-phase research process, the Outlook’s Regional Coordinators will be gathering insights and recommendations to develop the final Outlook report, with key findings set to be shared at COP26 in 2021.
In this interview series, we get to know each of our Regional Coordinators in-depth:
Introduce yourself and where you come from.
My name is Tianna Philippot and I am the Regional Coordinator for North America for the Global Youth Energy Outlook, and the current Student Energy Chapter President for the University of Manitoba (U of M). I grew up in a small rural community north of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and am currently in the final year of my undergraduate biosystems engineering program.
Why are you passionate about energy and/or climate action?
I am extremely passionate about innovative research and technology in the clean energy sector and unique culturally inclusive implementation strategies to apply them on a global scale. I strongly believe an important aspect of the global energy transition is proper energy education, communication, and collaboration across the world.
What do you think are some of the biggest challenges to transitioning to a sustainable energy system in your region?
It is without debate that many northern and/or remote communities in North America are currently reliant on fossil fuels for survival. The needs and capacity of each community are so unique that a thoughtful and meticulous community energy plan must be created for each community. This process is very important but also extremely time-consuming which creates a challenge for a fast transition to sustainable energy.
What aspects of the energy system in your region do you plan to learn more about?
I plan to continue research on low carbon economies, and ongoing carbon capture initiatives in western Canada.
Why is it important to hear the perspectives of young people in your region?
It is important to hear the perspectives of young people in my region as they are the future of the world who will ultimately suffer the greatest consequences from climate change. Throughout history, young people of diverse backgrounds were not granted the same opportunity to voice their opinion on world issues. This is one of the many reasons the Outlook is so important to the future of energy: because it is the first opportunity to gather the perspectives of 50,000 youth from all over the world.
How did you first get involved in Student Energy?
I started with Student Energy’s partnership chapter at the University of Manitoba two years ago. I realized immediately that the organization’s reach extended much further than I could have imagined. As I continued to involve myself in Student Energy’s programming, such as attending the International Student Energy Summit, I was able to make lifelong connections in the energy sector. My passion for energy education only grew deeper when I joined the Student Energy Leadership Fellowship and gained valuable project experience. With the help of my amazing fellowship cohort, the University of Manitoba is now an officially recognized Student Energy Chapter. Student Energy has only been a part of my life for the last 2 years, but it has held an incredibly important presence.
