With sea levels in the Philippines rising at five times the global rate, Rep. Martin Romualdez on Tuesday urged the government to revisit its policy on the construction of coal-fired plants, saying that the risks associated with coal properties far outweigh its short-term benefits.
“Yes, we need energy, but our homes will have no use for light bulbs if they’re underwater,” said Romualdez, a member of the House of Representatives’ special committee on climate change.
The Leyte representative, whose native province was inundated by Typhoon “Yolanda” in November 2013, said that the continued construction of coal-fired plants is inconsistent with the country’s commitments during the recently held Conference of Parties in Paris, France whereby the government committed to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 70 percent by 2030. President Aquino further committed to full decarbonization of the country by 2050 by shifting to clean and renewable sources to power the country’s growing energy needs.
“It is disappointing that the President inaugurated a 300-megawatt coal-fired plant in Davao barely a month after committing to shift to clean energy. There had been many studies proving that coal-fired plants are the biggest contributors to global warming. A typical coal plant generates 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide [CO2] per year,” Romualdez added.
According to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a peer-reviewed US journal, the effects of global warming on rising sea levels and warmer oceans have been underestimated and may be two times greater than previously thought. The overall sea level rise rate is about 2.74 millimeters per year, combining both thermal expansion and melting ice. While sea level rise was also found to vary substantially from place to place, the rate around the Philippines has been calculated to be estimated at five times the global rate.
The findings also suggest that increasingly severe storm surges could be anticipated as a result. Romualdez, a UP alumnus, echoed the call of Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez for the President to reject further construction of coal-fired plants. Jimenez had asked the President not to approve a proposed 15-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Palawan province. Jimenez warned that the approval of the coal plant project will adversely impact on Palawan’s booming tourism industry and will cause “irrevocable damage to one of the country’s ecological treasures and iconic destinations and one of the most pristine ecosystems.”
Romualdez said that he is also concerned about the adverse impact of coal on the lives of Filipinos.
“Burning coal is proven to be the leading cause of smog, acid rain, and toxic air pollution. Continued exposure to these elements will affect the health and the quality of life of our children and grandchildren,” he added.
Romualdez, who is vying for a Senate seat, vowed to take the lead in pursing clean and renewable energy resources to address the country’s power needs.