Activists tell PNoy to lead regional fight against climate change impact

A climate change coalition has called on President Benigno Aquino III to make drastic steps and take immediate actions to lead the Southeast Asia in its efforts to quell the effects of climate change. In a statement, the ASEAN for a Fair, Ambitious and Binding Global Climate Deal (A-FAB) urged Aquino to "fast-track plans that would inspire [ASEAN] neighbors to put climate change at the front and center of ASEAN cooperation." The group, spearheaded by Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Oxfam and other organizations, said Aquino is in a unique position to make a bold move given his leadership position in the country's climate change body, the Climate Change Commission. A-FAB issued its statement at the close of the ASEAN Energy Ministerial Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on Friday. “The Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia where the President is the head of a climate change body. This speaks of the significance of climate change as an issue for the Philippines," said Shalimar Vitan, Oxfam advocacy coordinator for Southeast Asia. Vitan said Aquino should take charge in ensuring that the ASEAN is united in working toward a fair, ambitious and binding commitment during the last rounds of climate change negotiations in Panama and Durban this year. The group is calling for the ASEAN to move strongly as a bloc during the upcoming negotiations since it is one of the most vulnerable regions in the world should the effects of climate change worsen. "An ADB report estimates that the cost of adaptation for the agriculture and coastal zones in four member states (the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia) would be approximately $5 billion per year by 2020 on average," it said. Among other things, the group is pushing for more ambitious carbon emission reduction, concrete sources of funding for the Green Climate Fund, and the assurance that at least 50 percent of funding goes to climate change adaptation in developing countries. “President Aquino can spell the difference in ASEAN as a true leader of climate change action if he acts swiftly, by prioritizing the implementation of the [National Climate Change Action Plan] as well as the development and deployment of renewable energy sources," stressed lawyer Zelda Soriano, political consultant for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. In the same vein, Greenpeace urged Aquino to shelve all pending plans for the establishment of coal-fired power plants in the country, saying that it "sends mixed signals" regarding the country's renewable energy commitments. "President Aquino has personally cut the ribbon during the inauguration of coal-fired power plants, the most recent of which is the plant in La Paz, Iloilo," Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Amalie Obusan pointed out. "The Philippines is among the most vulnerable to climate impacts, and could be setting the example for sustainable development powered by renewable energy," added Soriano. Obusan explained that coal plants are largely the single biggest contributor to carbon emissions, which lead to climate change. "These coal plants’ capacities are taking away from renewables and lock us deeper into a carbon-intensive future when, in fact, we already have better alternatives readily available," she added. Amalie noted, however, that it's not too late for this Philippines to "become the prime example of sustainable development" if the gears are shifted to renewables and the Philippine Energy Plan is concretely prioritized. — JM/VS, GMA News