Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior docked yesterday in
Legazpi City, Albay to kick off a month-long 'Quit coal, save the climate' tour
of the Philippines.
"We are here to expose the role of coal in climate change,
the greatest threat to life and biodiver-sity on the planet. We are here to
highlight the urgent need for adoption of strong mitigation and adaptation
measures to tackle the worst impacts of climate change," said Mike Fincken,
skipper of the Rainbow Warrior.
The Philippines ranks among the countries most at risk from
climate change, and Albay, a province most vulnerable to extreme weather impacts
of climate change. In 2006, Albay was pummeled by a series of strong typhoons,
including Super Typhoon Reming (Durian). Reming triggered a massive mudslide on
the slopes of Mayon Volcano, killed 734 people, wrecked or damaged more than
half a million houses, and left PhP1.6 billion in agricultural damages in the
province.
"It is time that Malacanang woke up. There is very little
time to waste and the tide is not going to wait either. Coal causes climate
change. Climate change is already wreaking havoc across the country. But those
in power are either asleep or choose to ignore what scientists are proclaiming"
said Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director. "Greenpeace
believes that any attempt to seriously address global warming must recognize
that governments must quit coal and choose an energy development path built on
clean and renewable sources of energy and which promotes energy efficiency for a
truly secure and sustainable future," he added.
It is now an accepted fact that carbon dioxide (CO2) from
coal fired power plants, is the main driver of climate change, representing a
major portion of the world' s greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, coal accounts
for almost 60 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector. In the
Philippines eight coal fired power plants, with a total capacity of 4,177 MW, or
about 26.1 percent of the country's installed capacity, currently account for as
much as 36 percent of the emissions from the energy sector. However, nine
coal-fired plants are currently up for construction or expansion in the country
despite the fact that the government recognizes the Philippines as among the
countries most vulnerable to climate change.
In 2007, Albay province took the lead in climate change
adaptation, initiating and hosting the first National Conference on Climate
Change Adaptation (NCCCA), which produced the Albay Declaration on Climate
Change Adaptation.
Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organization that acts to
change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment, and to
promote peace.
