Climate Justice
group welcomes Climate Change Commission resolution challenges
incoming President Duterte for sweeping reforms in energy sector
Press Release
May 27, 2016
QUEZON CITY –
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), a nationwide climate
justice coalition expressed its appreciation for the latest Climate
Change Commission resolution calling for the review of the Philippine
energy policy and harmonization of regulation on new and existing coal
plants “in accordance with a low carbon development pathway.“
"This resolution is
consistent with the Philippine commitment to contribute to the global
effort to keep temperature to below 1.5 degrees, and a significant
development in the face of the long standing demand by many
communities and peoples organizations in the Philippines to shift away
from coal energy,” commented Ian Rivera, the National Coordinator of
the broadest climate justice coalition in the Philippines.
The Philippines led the
Climate Vulnerable Forum, a group of governments from 20 countries, in
successfully pushing for the inclusion in the Paris climate agreement
of the aspirational goal to limit global temperature rise to 1.5
degrees Celsius.
“The urgency of addressing
the climate crisis is deeply felt by our people, having experienced
massive devastation from extreme weather events related to climate
change, such as super typhoons and super-El Niños. It is only right
that we lead in the effort to address change – not only in words but
in action” said Rivera. “We hope this resolution will actually lead to
the reversal of the Aquino government’s policy of expansion of coal
energy, and a swift transition to renewable and clean energy for
people and communities,” he added.
"This resolution is long
overdue. We have been fighting against coal plants and coal mines for
a long time, being witness to the horrific effects of coal projects on
communities, on people’s health and livelihoods, on our local
environment. We are also against coal energy because it is one of the
leading contributors to climate change" said Mr. Roldan Gonzales,
Executive Director of Gitib, Inc., and a PMCJ campaigner from the
Mindanao.
“We challenge
President-elect Duterte to take this further, beyond a review, and
make it a priority of Presidency to issue an Executive Order
suspending plans, permits and construction of new power plants in the
country. Mindanao is host to many of the 27 new coal fired power
plants currently in the pipeline“.
Ms. Pines Arcega, convenor
of Defend Zambales and a PMCJ anti-coal campaigner in one of the
frontline communities from Luzon, echoed this challenge. “A review of
energy policy and harmonization of regulations on new and existing
coal plants is not enough. Our communities, our country, have suffered
enough. Government should act immediately to put a stop to dirty
energy. We need an executive order for a moratorium on new coal plans
and coal mines in place in the first 100 days of the new
administration.