Climate hypocrites
by Rodne R. Galicha

While the Philippine government advances in climate negotiations at international gatherings, plausible as it may, communities continue to suffer development aggressions resulting to a series of disasters fueled by the climate crisis.

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) chaired by no less than President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has been moving heaven and earth to realize the dreams and aspirations mentioned in the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP). Of course, I really don’t know if, indeed, the president takes it seriously –but the rest of the commission are doing their best to integrate climate action within the programs of the rocky ‘tuwid na daan’.

Last year, the civil society working group on climate change called Aksyon Klima – Pilipinas (AK) was invited to join an assessment of the NCCAP and workshop on programs to be implemented to realize and mainstream climate action. It was disappointing that a lot of national government agencies concerned were not around – how could we move forward if even these agencies were not really that serious to zealously participate? Or maybe, doing their own respective climate action plans for the sake of compliance?

How could we ever forget Commissioner Yeb Saño who rocked the whole climate negotiations in Qatar last year with his words: “The outcome of our work is not about what our political masters want. It is about what is demanded of earth’s seven billion people. I appeal to all: Please, no more delays, no more excuses.”

Commissioner Saño was not only referring to the international delegates, he was also referring to his colleagues in the government way back home. Unfortunately, majority of his colleagues were not listening because their political masters may remand them, hence, more delays, more excuses.

We were surprised by Habagat. Philex mining in Padcal was challenged with a crisis blaming nature as the culprit. And yes, typhoon Pablo became the strongest tropical cyclone to ever hit Mindanao, the costliest in the Philippines amounting to Php 42.2 billion, killing 1,067 people and more than 800 missing.

We never learned our lesson.

This month, 16 contracts to explore and develop coal resources were awarded by the Department of Energy ‘based on the company’s resource exploration strategy, utilization and production approach, evidence of available funds and financial track record, technical resources and validity of legal documents’. In 2010, 34% of the total power generated in the country came from coal-fired power plants, and I am afraid coal continues to be the main source of energy as more coal-fired power plants are being planned to be opened. This means more carbon dioxide thrown up to the atmosphere.

But what’s the point? Although in 2008, our country’s contribution to the global carbon dioxide emission was mere .28% but the effect of the total emission nowadays is the increasing temperature – as carbon dioxide traps a lot of heat – leading to a climate crisis we never experienced before: extreme weather conditions.

The recent disaster at Semirara mines is an eye-opener. After decades of operations, the unfortunate event happened – the company concerned may then point to the very act of nature as Padcal mines operators concluded after their own taste of fate.

It is not more on how much carbon dioxide we emit, but on how we view the vulnerability and exposure of our communities to hazards. Are we, as an archipelagic country composed of island ecosystems actually resilient? Do we have the capacities to adapt to the increasing hazards brought about by the climate crisis?

We were proud having participated actively in Rio de Janiero’s conference on sustainable development some twenty years ago. Countries of the world look up at us as we adapt policies like the Philippine Agenda 21, and later on the Climate Change Act, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, People’s Survival Fund Act, among others.

But we feel that our nation is at a huge risk – an undeniable reality.

Are government agencies really serious with the NCCAP? Look at these realities: more coal-fired power plants and contracts to exploit the islands to extract coal; an environmental compliance certificate courtesy of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was granted for a large mine in South Cotabato putting the communities at a high disaster risk while stripping off the forests and top soil; and a so-called large century dam in the province of Rizal.

Huge projects are implemented to primarily boost the economy, but to address series of unthinkable mortalities and costs of disasters, the government must think a thousand times. The very right to live has been denied; the constitutional right to a healthful and balanced ecology is violated.

While the Climate Change Commission may be sweating blood acting on these challenges, others are adding up more risks to communities and ironically, ease to investors.

Our economy may be growing but I see dead people and devastated environment. This is not sustainable development. This is pure climate hypocrisy.

By the way, the grassroots movement is practically huge – climate justice is at hand and, indeed, political will is a renewable resource.

(Rodne R. Galicha is country manager of Washington-based The Climate Reality Project. He works on mining policy reform at Haribon Foundation. He blogs at http://www.rodgalicha.com.)

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