The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced on Thursday, May 23, that Liter of Light, a grassroots solar lighting movement originating from the Philippines, has earned a Guinness World Record for the largest solar artwork in the world.
In a statement, the agency said the World Record was set with 3,000 solar lamps, all handcrafted by thousands of students from Deira International School and Universal American School.
“It is the largest youth climate action in the Asia, Middle East, and North Africa (AMENA) region since COP28, the global climate change negotiations hosted by the United Arab Emirates in December 2023,” the DENR stated.
The DENR stated that following the public exhibition, the solar lights from the installation will be given to communities in the Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, in partnership with the DENR.
“Each hand-built solar light reduces carbon emissions by 1000 kg over five years by replacing traditional forms of electricity, mainly kerosene, with clean, sustainable energy,” the environment department noted.
Agusan Marsh, which is under DENR’s stewardship, remains one of Asia's most important transit points for wild birds and a pivotal reservoir of biodiversity.
According to the environment department, the unveiling of the record-breaking artwork coincides with International Day for Biodiversity, a day dedicated to raising awareness about environmental stewardship.
The DENR characterized the artwork, ‘Tree of Light’ as a “majestic symbol of the beauty of the natural world and all its inhabitants, but also a stern warning of the devastating consequences of human-induced climate change and environmental degradation.”
Illac Diaz, the founder and Global Director of Liter of Light, said the “Tree of Light” reminds people of their responsibility to care for the Earth and to be mindful of our impact on the environment.
Close to one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, she added.
“Each species that dies is like taking away a branch of that tree, a tremendous loss to life on earth and future generations,” she said.
“Working with the youth to be part of this message was important because they are the ones who are leading change and inspiring us to act to build back biodiversity.”
Per DENR, Liter of Light empowers climate-vulnerable communities with hand-built solar lighting solutions assembled from locally sourced parts. This initiative presents a unique model for community engagement, leading some of the largest net-zero climate action projects globally. Since 2018, Liter of Light has constructed several of the world's largest hand-built solar artworks.
The latest artwork is a collaborative effort between Liter of Light and the UAE-based Al-Futtaim Group, which includes Al-Futtaim Real Estate, Al-Futtaim Automotive, and the Al-Futtaim Education Foundation, the agency added.