Low Carbon News in Philippines in August 2013
22 June 2013
Philippine senator calls for a low-carbon lifestyle
With the increasing evidence of climate change as seen in extreme weather events such as intense heat or excessive rains, Senator Loren Legarda appealed to Filipinos to practice a low-carbon lifestyle since climate change was caused and is made worse by increased emissions of greenhouse gases. A renowned environmentalist and climate activist, Senator Legarda said that Filipinos should start eating more local, plant-based, and in-season foods, because food that comes from distant places uses more energy for transportation and preservation, resulting to greater carbon emission.
Source: Manila Standard Today, http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/06/22/legarda-bats-for-low-carbon-lifestyle/
27 June 2013
Philippines maps out plan to switch to 100% renewables in 10 years
The Worldwatch Institute’s Climate met with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) and high-level representatives of the federal and provincial governments of the Philippines to lay groundwork for a Sustainable Energy Roadmap for the archipelago nation, which aims to shift its current electricity system to 100 percent renewable energy within a decade. The Sustainable Energy Roadmap, takes an integrated approach to examining the technical, socioeconomic, financial and policy changes necessary for transitioning to a an energy system entirely based on energy efficiency, intelligent grid solutions and renewable supply.
Source: World Watch,http://www.worldwatch.org/philippines-maps-out-plan-switch-100-percent-renewables-10-years
4 August 2013
Mining firm spends Php140M for ‘green’ initiatives’
A mining firm in the Philippines stated that so far it has invested about Php140 million (USD3.1 million) in its environmental protection and management initiatives at its nickel project site in the country. A significant part of the investment was spent on a study to help mitigate the potential impacts of mineral exploration on the local community. The environmental protection initiatives, the mining firm said, will help the company ensure that the nickel project would set new standards for low-carbon emissions, independence from fossil fuels and environmental impact.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://business.inquirer.net/136555/intex-spends-p140m-for-green-initiatives
4 August 2013
Climate advocate Al Gore trains Filipino-American climate leaders
A non-profit environmental organization headed by Al Gore brought together climate advocates from all over the world to discuss ways to increase awareness of the climate change issue. The Climate Reality Project (TCRP) – a non profit aimed to spark global action against climate change through grass root engagement – trained the newest batch of climate leaders at the 23rd Leadership Corps training in Chicago last July 30 to August 1, 2013. The global confab brought in participants from all the 50 states and 77 countries around the world. Among the attendees were 6 Filipino-Americans.
Source: Rappler, http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/balikbayan/35588-al-gore-trains-filam-climate-leaders
6 August 2013
Bases Conversion and Development Authority in the Philippines to develop Clark Green City
State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has secured the approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to develop some 36,000 hectares in the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone into a new city half the size of Metro Manila. BCDA said the project covered by the Clark Green City Master Development Plan was expected to help attract investments, generate more jobs, boost the economy and sustain inclusive growth. The project is seen as a huge step for the Philippines in building modern and sustainable cities like in other major cities across the world
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://business.inquirer.net/136991/bcda-to-develop-a-new-city-in-clark-freeport
10 August 2013
ProGED holds workshop on upgrading strategies
The German-funded project Promotion for Green Economic Development (ProGED) has accelerated its master plan for the upgrading and greening of the health and tourism value chain in a city south of the Philippines. The ProGED team gathered representatives from the two sectors and engaged them in a series of focused group discussions and workshop creating action plan in developing the sectors. It was mentioned during the workshop that aside from creating the avenue for stakeholders in health, wellness and tourism to implement greening policies in their respective operations, through technical support and know-how, ProGED team ll also link these companies to the ample institutions that provide financing access to green-related projects.
Source: Philippine Star, http://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2013/08/10/1073851/proged-holds-workshop-upgradingstrategies
10 August 2013
A telecommunication company in the Philippines promotes use of renewable energy through solar lanterns
GLOBE Telecom reinforces its commitment to environmental sustainability by promoting the benefits of using renewable energy among its partner communities in far-flung places which are deprived of electricity. Together with Stiftung Solarenergie Philippines, Globe is spear-heading a solar lantern-distribution program in Batangas, Davao and Benguet. Solar lamps for distribution are either portable or for installation in homes and can provide from four hours of continuous use under maximum setting to as long as 100 hours under bedtime setting. They can also be used to charge mobile phones.
Source: Business Mirror, http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/science/17695-globe-telecom-promotes-use-of-renewable-energy-through-solar-lanterns
13 August 2013
Seoul mayor suggests subways as traffic fix for Metro Manila
The mayor of Seoul — a human rights activist and lawyer who earned the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006 — met with Metro Manila officials on Tuesday to foster long-term partnerships in addressing urban development issues. In a two-hour meeting with the mayors, Park offered his government’s help to Metro Manila, inviting Philippine officials to come to Seoul for them to learn in detail how the Philippine capital could handle common problems facing megacities, such as traffic jams and flooding. Among the best practices and projects he cited were Seoul’s modern transport solutions, including a 115-kilometer bus transit system, a 327-kilometer urban railway system, and government efforts to make mass transport not only efficient but also environment friendly.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://globalnation.inquirer.net/83187/seoul-mayor-suggests-subways-as-traffic-fix-for-metro-manila
16 August 2013
How environment experts envision a ‘green hospital’
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH)-Asia launched the report “From the Backyard to the Frontline” on July 29 at the St. Paul de Chartres Renewal Center in Alfonso, Cavite, Philippines. The report discusses Philippine hospital workers’ best environmental practices and features some of the best practices in hospitals from different parts of the country. The report will be published by HCHW-Asia in cooperation with the UNDP-Global Environmental Facility Global Health Care Waste Project.
HCWH-Asia is in the midst of a campaign known as the Global Green and Health Hospitals (GGHH). The GGHH Network is a conglomeration of hospitals, health systems and health organizations that represent the interests of over 3,500 hospitals spanning six continents. The network is composed of members committed to implementing 10 interconnected goals aimed to reduce ecological footprints and promote public environmental health.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://business.inquirer.net/138745/how-environment-experts-envision-a-green-hospital
23 Aug 2013
Building Critical Mass Awareness of Climate Change – Engaging Media, Advertising and Entertainment Sectors
The ‘Redraw The Line’ climate change awareness campaign, the No Impact Project and the Asia-Pacific Media Alliance for Social Awareness are holding a series of one-day seminars around Asia on “Building Critical Mass Awareness of Climate Change – Engaging Media, Advertising and Entertainment Sectors”. The events aim to stimulate dialogue and cooperation between different sectors in addressing climate change.
In the Philippines, the event was held at the Asian Development Bank auditorium on 22 August and participated by representatives from development agencies, multi-lateral institutions, NGOs, academe, advertising, media and entertainment sector, and private-sector corporations.
Source: http://www.redrawtheline.org/events/
http://www.adb.org/news/events/building-critical-mass-awareness-climate-change
24 August 2013
Asia LEDS Forum 2013
The Asia LEDS Forum 2013 will be held during October 1-4, 2013 in Manila, Philippines, with pre-meetings and side events on September 30. The Forum will be hosted by the Philippines Climate Change Commission, with support from ALP members including USAID, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), AusAID, and ADB. The theme, “Putting LEDS into Practice,” reflects strong interest from members to move from planning to implementing LEDS, and in finding the best ways to make this a reality in different country contexts.
The Asia Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Forum serves as the premier annual gathering of policymakers, donors, practitioners, and other experts involved in enabling low-emission, climate-resilient development in Asia. The annual event aims to facilitate regional coordination; share tools, models, approaches, and best practices; and increase capacity and readiness of practitioners to lead and implement LEDS and green growth initiatives.
Source: Asia Low Emission Development Strategies, http://forums.asialeds.org/?page_id=7
24 August 2013
Mark Lynas admits having sinned for being a former anti-GMO activist
But this time, Lynas, a prize-winning writer-researcher, meeting newsmen after arriving in Manila on August 23 for a series of lectures in the region, talked on how he had changed his mind on biotechnology when he realized that the scientific consensus on GMOs was “as strong as the scientific consensus on the reality of climate change.”
At the news conference he said that, “to spare the rain forests, we have to increase the productivity of existing agricultural lands and, once again, the challenge here is to use biotechnology to manage to achieve that“.
Source: Business Mirror, http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/science/18387-mark-lynas-admits-having-sinned-for-being-a-former-anti-gmo-activist
24 August 2013
Laguna needs to strengthen capacity against typhoons, floods, SEARCA says
A recent study conducted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), under the auspices of the International Development Research Center of Canada, illustrated this vulnerability, with the recent floods caused by southwest monsoon rains spawned by Typhoon Maring (International codename Trami), proving that the province has yet to keep in step with climate-change resiliency.
Started in May 2011 and to be completed in December 2013, the study is part of a multi-country project, entitled “Building Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change in Southeast Asia,” which aims to enhance the capacity of three Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam—in research, planning and action with regard to climate-change adaptation.
Source: Business Mirror, http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/green/18371-laguna-needs-to-strengthen-capacity-against-typhoons-floods-searca-says
25 August 2013
Can UN scientists revive drive against climate change?
A leaden cloak of responsibility lies on the shoulders of UN scientists as they put the final touches to the first volume of a massive report that will give the world the most detailed picture yet of climate change. Due to be unveiled in Stockholm on September 27, the document will be scrutinized word by word by green groups, fossil-fuel lobbies and governments to see if it will yank climate change out of prolonged political limbo. The report will kick off the fifth assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an expert body set up in 1988 to provide neutral advice on global warming and its impacts.
Source: Rappler, http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/37236-un-ipcc-ar5-climate-change
27 August 2013
Biking for Life
In the Philippines, four senators have already initiated legislated to promote biking and create a bike-friendly environment in the country. While the bills have yet to be passed in Congress, these senators could be into something good for humankind. Ever since the two-wheeled carriage had been invented, long before it was called a bicycle, riding it has been one of the most efficient modes of transportation. It is an activity that provides several benefits, not only physically and mentally but also environmentally.
Source: Manila Bulletin, http://mb.com.ph/Lifestyle/Well-Being/29066/Biking_for_Life#.UhyvdRvdc9A
28 August 2013
CALL FOR CITIES: SOLUTIONS (Sharing Opportunities for Low carbon Urban transporTatION)
The European SOLUTIONS (Sharing Opportunities for Low carbon Urban transporTatION) project on innovative and green urban transport solutions, is calling for cities from Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Mediterranean, to become involved in the project’s innovation activities as leading, take-up or training city.
Clean Air Asia, as part of the consortium partners that will be implementing the SOLUTIONS project, is encouraging cities, particularly in Asia, to take part in this unique opportunity to share experiences and knowledge with other cities from the globe.
CALLS available at: www.urban-mobility-solutions.eu.
Source: Clean Air Asia, http://cleanairinitiative.org/portal/node/12011
28 August 2013
ADB Publication: Building Development Effectiveness Post-2015: A Results-Based Approach
The current debate about the post-2015 period has generated a wide range of ideas on what the new agenda should include, and how it should be implemented. This paper seeks to contribute to the discussion by putting forward a possible framework that is focused on accelerating achievement of development results while enhancing their sustainability and accountability. Reflecting the interdependent nature of global development challenges, the framework integrates economic, social, and environmental dimensions, with the aim of harnessing interlinkages to maximize results. The paper also makes the case for results-based financing as a key means of improving development effectiveness and accountability for resources, and touches on the potential role of the Asian Development Bank in supporting the institutionalization and implementation of the post-2015 agenda.
Source: Asian Development Bank, http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/pub/2013/adb-wp-26-development-effectiveness-post-2015.pdf
30 August 2013
Jatropha proves unsuccessful in Philippines
Considerable effort and finance has gone into the growing of jatropha in the Philippines but there is little to show for this investment.
Malaya Business Insight reports how in 2004 the “country went crazy over jatropha” which was promoted as easy to grow on any soil and able to produce ready-to-use biofuel. The article asks if jatropha was an elaborate scam, and a decade on, what is there to show for all the projects and money spent?
The Jatropha curcas tree is indigenous to Central America and produces a seed that can be processed into biodiesel suitable for diesel cars or further processed into jet fuel.
Source: World Agroforestry Centre, http://worldagroforestry.org/newsroom/media_coverage/jatropha-proves-unsuccessful-philippines