Rainbow Warrior Docks at Albay with the message: ‘Quit coal, save the climate’

“We are here to expose the role of coal in climate change, the greatest threat to life and biodiversity on the planet. We are here to highlight the urgent need for adoption of strong mitigation and adaptation measures to tackle the worst impacts of climate change,” said Mike Fincken, skipper of the Rainbow Warrior.

BY GREENPEACE
Posted by Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 16, May 25-31, 2008

Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior docked in Legazpi City, Albay province, 556 kilometers south of Manila, May 21, to kick off a month-long ‘Quit coal, save the climate’ tour of the Philippines.

“We are here to expose the role of coal in climate change, the greatest threat to life and biodiversity on the planet. We are here to highlight the urgent need for adoption of strong mitigation and adaptation measures to tackle the worst impacts of climate change,” said Mike Fincken, skipper of the Rainbow Warrior.

The Philippines ranks among the countries most at risk from climate change, and Albay is a province most vulnerable to extreme weather impacts of climate change. In 2006, Albay was pummeled by a series of strong typhoons, including Super Typhoon Reming (Durian). Reming triggered a massive mudslide on the slopes of Mayon Volcano, killed 734 people, wrecked or damaged more than half a million houses, and left PhP1.6 billion ($31,183,005 at the 2006 exchange rate of $1=P51.31) in agricultural damages in the province.

“It is time that Malacanang woke up. There is very little time to waste and the tide is not going to wait either. Coal causes climate change. Climate change is already wreaking havoc across the country. But those in power are either asleep or choose to ignore what scientists are proclaiming” said Von Hernandez, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director. “Greenpeace believes that any attempt to seriously address global warming must recognize that governments must quit coal and choose an energy development path built on clean and renewable sources of energy and which promotes energy efficiency for a truly secure and sustainable future,” he added.

It is now an accepted fact that Carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal fired power plants, is the main driver of climate change, representing a major portion of the world’ s greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, coal accounts for almost 60 percent of carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector. In the Philippines eight coal fired power plants, with a total capacity of 4,177 MW, or about 26.1 percent of the country’s installed capacity, currently account for as much as 36 percent of the emissions from the energy sector. However, nine coal-fired plants are currently up for construction or expansion in the country despite the fact that the government recognizes the Philippines as among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

In 2007, Albay province took the lead in climate change adaptation, initiating and hosting the first National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation (NCCCA), which produced the Albay Declaration on Climate Change Adaptation. (Bulatlat.com)

Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.