Asia Clean Energy Forum...Really Clean???

Attended the just concluded Asia clean energy forum sponsored by the Asian Development Bank, USAID and APEC. Previously, "clean energy" used renewable energy and energy efficiency considering that fossil fuels are the main reason why we have global warming. This year, a lot of the sessions were about "cleaner coal". It's disturbing that while we realize that climate change is an urgent issue, we try to solve it with "business as usual" measures. Whenever my daughter, Eireanne, has a high fever, my wife and stop what we're doing and do all known interventions to get the temperature down. We should have the same attitude about the planet. We should be slowing down our consumption of fossil fuels by being energy efficient followed by the use of renewable energy. As examples, this means: 1.) replacing all our incandescent lightbulbs with compact flourescent lamps, 2.) putting our a/c thermostat at 23C (instead of 18C) and choosing geothermal, wind, solar, hydro or biomass power. The focus on coal appears to undermine the growth of renewable energy and energy efficiency. It also didn't help that most lights in ADB's halls were incandescents or halogens. Where's the consistency?

The USAID on the other hand, outlined its focus areas for climate change mitigation: 1.) Energy Efficiency, 2.) Cleaner Coal and 3.) Knowledge Management. Coal Again??? I guess, the choice is between gold bars and the entire planet. What's your choice?

WWF: World Wide Fund for Nature not World Wrestling Federation

The World Wide Fund for Nature has been in existence since 1961 when conservationists saw the fact that African wildlife could disappear within 20 years. The group was then called the World Wildlife Fund. In the 70s and 80s, the organization realized that efforts needed to be towards conserving biomes rather than specific species in isolation. Thus the group's legal name became the World Wide Fund for Nature but the initials remained the same. Today, WWF has taken the issue of Climate Change as a priority. Gone are the days where environmentalists just struggle with local issues such as poachers or toxic waste. Today we struggle with a phenomenon that can eradicate whole nations from the face of the earth. In our day and age, environmental issues are socio-political/economic issues. It is therefore imperative that every missions bureau or development organization to address the enviromental aspect of their target communities/people groups. Consider Darfur...

Perspective on G8

Its interesting that the US and Russia, one of the largest GHG emitters and a big oil supplier, seem to have a missile crisis of Eastern Europe. It is also interesting that prior to this the US announces that it will define its GHG targets by end of 2008. Delaying tactics? The missile crisis, puts some pressure to the summit to resolve the security issue and not on GHG caps. It would not be surprising, if only a vague agreement on emission limits would be attained. Citizens from the G8 countries should see beyond this on pressure their governments to act for the good of the whole human race and not for short term economics. US citizens should also pressure the Bush administration to comply to the UNFCCC scheme immediately, lest some half measure be put in place by the end of 2008.

Climate Change 101 part 2

The most abundant GHG is CO2. Without human activity, the planet's vegetation gives off CO2 as a by-product of photosynthesis. The use of petroleum and coal have led to an accumulation of GHG above pre-industrial levels (300ppm vs. 382ppm). If the concentration goes beyond 475ppm, the earth's average temperature will go above 2 degrees C leading to widespread collapse of agriculture, ecosystems and the onset of epidemics. Methane (CH4) another GHG, is 21 times more potent than CO2. This is a by-product of Anerobic processes such as decomposition in landfills and rice agriculture. It is therefore important to be vigilant with the quantity and quality of our energy consumption, to reduce our waste and to be more efficient in our consumption and production of rice.

Climate Change 101

Lately, international news would have an item or 2 on Climate Change. What is it anyway? In a nutshell, it is the overall change of the climate due to a rise in the earth's temperature (a.k.a Global Warming). This is caused by the accumulation of Infra-red (IR) radiating compounds in the atmosphere known as Greenhouse gases (GHGs). Solar radiation is made up of visible light, UV and IR (heat carrying) components. When Solar radiation comes in contact with the atmosphere, whether by its initial approach to the earth or by reflection from the planet's surface, IR is radiated by GHGs resulting in heat trapped between the atmosphere and the surface. This warms up the planet leading to ice cap melting, redistribution of rain, stronger typhoons, etc.

A Renewable Energy Law in the Philippines?

For the last 13 years, the environmentally conscious have struggled to push for a renewable energy law in the country. Without the law, it is more economically viable to put up coal fired power plants because of the higher taxes imposed on renewables. The Philippines is the 2nd largest producer of geothermal steam in the world ( 2nd to the US). Wind potential is valued at about 7GW, roughly enough to power 30,000 homes. There's a lot of sun, rivers and ocean to be tapped. Why hasn't our government been really keen on getting this set-up? Is there a powerful coal lobby that hinders us? After 13 years, the renewable energy bill is finally in the Philippine senate. In the closing days of this congress, when a certified urgent bill such as this is calendared...guess what...the Honorable Chair of the Senate Energy Committee, Miriam Defensor Santiago, doesn't show up!!! Why???

Hello World!!!

I finally had the time to start this blog!!!

Here you will find my thoughts on pressing issues that affect our planet such as Global Warming. I'll also be talking about solutions such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and the like. So stay tuned...