Low Carbon News in Philippines in November 2014
2 November 2014
RE-Charging Tacloban with green transport
There is massive potential in using renewable energy to rebuild areas devastated by weather disasters while promoting the concept of “transformational adaptation and resilience.”
It is not enough to just cope with global warming. Transforming society, through the pursuit of more sustainable pathways of development, such as with clean energy and transport, will make communities more resilient.
Climate change adaptation “needs to be reconceptualized and designed as a continuous and transformative process.” It should also provide an opportunity to institute lasting changes in the way development at the local level is designed and directed.
Ultimately, we become more resilient when we understand better the “roots of vulnerability” and when we recognize the broader sway communities can exert in changing “economic, political or even behavioral structures” that create, exacerbate or sustain community vulnerabilities.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://opinion.inquirer.net/79776/re-charging-tacloban-with-green-transport
3 November 2014
Building Momentum for Low Carbon Development
The Philippine economy has seen phenomenal growth over the last two years. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported how the economy grew 7.2 percent in 20131, even higher than the 6.8 percent growth of the previous year. It is the strongest two years of economic growth posted by the Philippines since the 1950s.
As much as this economic growth is needed to spur national development and progress, it is imperative to look for ways to ensure that these advancements are sustainable and inclusive. We must examine how economic activity that is largely based on the use of fossil fuels will affect the country and the planet. The burning of fossil fuels increases greenhouse gas emissions, which have been scientifically found to be a main cause of global warming.
Source: World Wildlife Fund, Philippines, http://www.wwf.org.ph/wwf4/wwd_momentum-low-carbon
7 November 2014
Burgos Wind Power Project successfully commissioned
On 05 November 2014, EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation (EBWPC), an affiliate of Energy Development Corporation (EDC), informed the Department of Energy (DOE) that its 150 megawatts (MW) Burgos Wind Project had achieved successful commissioning. Under the DOE’s Guidelines for the Selection Process of Renewable Energy Projects Under Feed-In Tariff System and the Award of Certificate for Feed-In Tariff Eligibility, successful commissioning means that the renewable energy project “is now physically connected to the Grid” and is “delivering power to the transmission system.”
The successful commissioning followed the DOE’s nomination of the Project to the Energy Regulatory Commission as an eligible project under the Feed-In Tariff System, Phase 1 (87 MW) and Phase 2 (63 MW) of the Project, all having achieved the requisite 80% electro mechanical completion on 25 September 2014 and 10 October 2014. To date, the Project is the only project that has been nominated by the DOE to the ERC.
Source: Energy Development Corporation, http://www.energy.com.ph/c/news/
10 November 2014
RE firm gets access to perks as FIT race gains steam
The feed-in tariff (FIT) race is heating up as the Department of Energy (DOE) named two wind projects to the incentive program for renewable energy (RE) developers. Two other solar power projects are already in the running for FIT allocation.
DOE Director Mario Marasigan said in a text message that the 150-megawatt (MW) Burgos wind project of Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has been nominated to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for eligibility under FIT.
The FIT scheme, provided under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, guarantees long-term contracts and returns for renewable energy firms through fixed rates to be shouldered by consumers. The scheme covers run-of-river hydropower, biomass, wind and solar power generation. Under the scheme, consumers will start paying a new line item in their monthly power bills starting January 2015.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://business.inquirer.net/181730/re-firm-gets-access-to-perks-as-fit-race-gains-steam#ixzz3LPqQtv1O
14 November 2014
President Aquino seeks increased regional cooperation to address climate change
President Benigno S. Aquino III has called on fellow ASEAN leaders to step up efforts in addressing climate change.
President Aquino made the pronouncement during his intervention at the 2nd ASEAN-US Summit, which is part of the 25th ASEAN Summit held at the Myanmar International Center here on Thursday.
Before ASEAN leaders and US President Barack Obama, President Aquino underscored the massive effect of climate change to the Philippines, citing recent powerful storms, including Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which left a trail of destruction in the Visayan region last year.
“These natural disasters do not recognize national boundaries, and they emphasize the necessity of increased regional cooperation through every available channel,” he said
Source: Public-Private Partnership Center, http://ppp.gov.ph/?p=26495
19 November 2014
Philippine legislators meet German parliamentary committee of environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety
A high-level delegation of senior Philippines legislators and policymakers recently met with members of the German Parliament (Bundestag) to discuss the conservation of the natural resources and the use of renewable energy resources. German Members of Parliament (MP), Ms. Bärbel Höhn of the Alliance ‘90/Green Party and Dr. Tim Ostermann of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), briefed the delegation on how Germany has been able to develop a cohesive legal and policy framework in the last twenty-five years to address climate change, biodiversity conservation, and urban planning.
The German policy mix has prioritized climate change mitigation through the aggressive adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies as well as stringent land use and zoning regulations. In response to the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe in March 2011, Germany expanded its renewable energy targets through the energy transition (Energiewende) program, which helped reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 23.8% in 2013. MP Höhn noted that an overwhelming majority of Germans now support the idea of renewable energy even in the face of higher prices.
Source: Philippine Embassy in Germany, http://www.philippine-embassy.de/bln/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1291&Itemid=74&lang=de
21 November 2014
USAID and Philippines Climate Change Commission strengthen national GHG inventory system
The USAID LEAD Program led a three-day, in-depth training on national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory systems for 35 Philippine government officials and staff during November 18-21, 2014 in Manila. The training focused on international best practices for the inventory preparation process, methodologies for data collection and measurement, as well as the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines for estimating GHG emissions.
By providing accurate, detailed, and complete information on GHG emission sources and sinks over time, GHG inventories allow governments to better manage emissions and evaluate the success of climate change policies.
Source: Low Emissions Asia, http://www.lowemissionsasia.org/news/ghg-nis-philippines-nov2014#sthash.4KolNK8z.dpuf
22 November 2014
APEC targets doubling of renewable energy
Member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)—the world’s largest producers and consumers of energy—are advancing new measures to double the share of renewable energy in the region within 15 years to keep pace with rising demand and ease the environmental impact of economic development across the Asia-Pacific.
Actions ranging from technical cooperation to facilitate solar photovoltaic rooftop installation to support for low carbon heating system development and renewable energy grid integration were taken forward during a just concluded week-long assembly of APEC energy officials in Port Moresby, on the heels of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting and subsequent bilateral meeting between China and the United States that announced their landmark emissions deal.
Source: Manila Bulletin, http://www.mb.com.ph/apec-targets-doubling-of-renewable-energy/